China's Zhang Yimou to direct opera at New York Met 

BEIJING  Feb. 15, 2006   (Credits– Xinhua & AFP)

World-acclaimed Chinese director Zhang Yimou has signed up to work on an opera at the New York Met based on the story of the China's legendary first ruler, state media reports.

"The First Emperor," starring tenor Placido Domingo in the title role, will be staged five or six times at the Metropolitan Opera House beginning on December 21, the Xinhua news agency reported.

"My understanding of opera is like how foreigners look at Peking opera. Love it but have no deep understanding," said Zhang.

The libretto will be set to music by Chinese composer Tan Dun, who won an Academy Award in 2000 for his score for Lee Ang's film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

The opera will depict the life of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, who unified the nation in the 3rd century BC and started building the Great Wall, only to lose the land and its people because of his tyrannical ways.

Zhang, known for movies like "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers," made his operatic debut directing Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot" at the Forbidden City in Beijing in 1998.

The opera will encompass diverse ways of expression, adding elements of Peking Opera and placing ancient Chinese vases and musical instruments on the stage, Xinhua said.

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