The First Emperor Public Events

The First Emperor Educational Outreach Program was initiated by the Ford Foundation, which generously supported musical workshops for the opera in Shanghai in April 2006 and at the Met the following month. Complimentary tickets for most events will be available for students on a first come, first served basis.

Ha Jin on Writing

Thursday, November 16, 2006; 5:30 PM
Fordham University English Professor Chris GoGwilt leads a conversation with the acclaimed author of Waiting and War Trash, who is also the co-librettist for the Tan Dun’s world-premiere opera The First Emperor. This event is open to students and the general public. Visit the Fordham University website to register and for more information.

China's First Emperor: The Man, the Myth, and the Opera

Monday, November 27, 2006/6 p.m.
Composer/conductor Tan Dun and members of his artistic team join Met Museum curator Maxwell K. Hearn for a lecture and discussion about the real first emperor and how he inspired the new opera. Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street. For more information, visit metmuseum.org/events.

The World Leaders Forum: The First Emperor and Our World

Thursday, November 30, 2006; 7-8:15 PM
Film producer James Schamus ( Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) moderates a roundtable discussion with First Emperor creators Tan Dun, Zhang Yimou, Ha Jin and Lydia Liu, at Columbia University’s Miller Theatre, Broadway at 116th St. Tickets are required. http://www.worldleaders.columbia.edu/

The First Emperor: The Making of the Met's New Opera with Tan Dun

Sunday, December 3, 2006/6:30 p.m.
Tan Dun offers an extraordinary preview of his latest opera. Joined by singers and musicians at this Asia Society event, he shares the music and the vision that has informed his use of traditional and contemporary musical ideas and how they are reshaped to create this new work. Asia Society and Museum, 725 Park Avenue. For more information, visit asiasociety.org.

Bringing The First Emperor to Life: A Singers’ Panel

Wednesday, December 6, 2006; 6:00-7:30 PM
The singers Elizabeth Futral, Michelle DeYoung and Paul Groves, all cast members of the world-premiere production of The First Emperor, talk about the opera with moderator Robert Marx. Kaplan Penthouse, Rose Building, Lincoln Center. Sponsored by the Metropolitan Opera Guild. Tickets are required.

http://www.metoperafamily.org/education/tickets/eventdate.aspx?id=1197

As part of The First Emperor educational outreach program initiated by the Ford Foundation, a limited number of complimentary tickets will be available for full-time students under the age of 29 beginning 30 minutes prior to the start of the interview. These tickets will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. Call 212-769-7028 for more information on this special student offer.

An Interview with Wang Chaoge and Fan Yue, with Li Changlin

Sunday, December 10, 2006, 2-4 PM
Presented by the Renwen Society of the China Institute
Co-director Wang Chaoge and set designer Fan Yue discuss their contributions to the world premiere of The First Emperor with TV news anchorman Li Changlin. This discussion will be in Chinese. Admission is free but pre-registration is required. Fordham University, Lincoln Center, Lowenstein Building, 12th floor lounge. Electronic registration at: chineselectures.org/121006.html, or register by phone, call 212-744-8181 ext.142

Creating The First Emperor: An interview with Zhang Yimou and Tan Dun, with Sarah Billinghurst

Tuesday, December 12, 2006; 6-7 PM
Composer Tan Dun and director Zhang Yimou participate in a conversation about their collaboration with Sarah Billinghurst, the Metropolitan Opera’s assistant manager, artistic. Tickets are required.

http://www.metoperafamily.org/education/tickets/eventdate.aspx?id=1209

As part of The First Emperor educational outreach program initiated by the Ford Foundation, a limited number of complimentary tickets will be available for full-time students under the age of 29 beginning 30 minutes prior to the start of the interview. These tickets will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. Call 212-769-7028 for more information on this special student offer.

General Orchestra Rehearsal of The First Emperor

Friday, December 15, 2006; 11 AM-2 PM
Metropolitan Opera Auditorium
As part of The First Emperor educational outreach program initiated by the Ford Foundation, 200 tickets will be available to full-time students under the age of 29. Tickets will be distributed at the box office beginning on Sunday, December 10. Two hundred free tickets are available, 1 per student with a valid student ID.

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