By ANTHONY TOMMASINI [NY Times, 11 January 2007]
The Metropolitan Opera has to be discouraged by the mostly negative critical reactions to ìThe First Emperor,î Tan Dunís ambitious opera, which had its world premiere at the house on Dec. 21. The good news for the Met, though, is that its run, through Jan. 25, is sold out, including this Saturdayís matinee, to be broadcast on radio and in high-definition screenings at more than 100 movie theaters around the world. Could opera companies have better proof that todayís audiences are hungry for new works?