Opera Club will screen Dun’s ‘The First Emperor’
CLUBHOUSE 3 LEARNING CENTER
All are invited to a free screening of Tan Dun’s “The First Emperor,” a 2006 commissioned work by the Metropolitan Opera that depicts power and love in Chinese history and legend. The screening will be held in the Clubhouse 3 Learning Center on Tuesday, July 21, at 1:30 p.m.
This performance is conducted by composer Tan Dun. Plácido Domingo performs the role of Emperor Qin, the role of Princess Yueyang is performed by Elizabeth Futral and the role of the composer Gao Jianli is performed by Paul Groves. This performance is staged by revered film director Zhang Yimou. The opera is a rich pageant of ancient China and a study of the ruler who united it.
Act 1 opens with ancient ritual music showing the emperor Qin Shi saying the old music does not reflect the newly unified empire that he has created. He therefore commands his general to capture the greatest known musician, Gao Jianli, to create a new anthem, and then the general will be awarded the royal daughter in marriage. However, the musician, Gao, rejects the emperor’s command and claims that the emperor’s pillaging of the acquired land caused the death of his mother.
In fact, the musician states that he prefers death to yielding to this command. However, the princess Yuryang, who herself is crippled, intercedes to save the musician’s life and they fall in love, whereby her paralyzed legs are healed. When the emperor learns that they have consummated their relationship, he demands execution for Gao, the composer, but wants the music first.
In Act 2, Gao teaches music to the princess. When the emperor insists on his daughter marrying the general, she threatens suicide. Nevertheless Gao finishes the anthem and events proceed to the coronation— whereupon the ghost of the princess appears to say she has taken her life. In addition, a ghost of the general appears to say the emperor has poisoned him. The composer then tears out his own tongue and spits it at the emperor. The emperor responds by killing him with a sword. Finally the music is played and the emperor finds it is a paean to the suffering of his people and the laborers who built the Great Wall as well as the artist’s revenge.
The production is in English with English subtitles. People are encouraged to wear masks indoors, if desired. No dues or fees are collected. For more information, contact Margaret Gillon at 562-370-3844 or margaretgi@ yahoo.com —Sylvan Von Burg
The spirtual adviser to the emperor, pictured in Tan Dun's production of "The First Emperor."
