The new works are exciting, for they show Tan elaborating on the accessible style of the soundtrack that helped make Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon a global hit. The basic elements of his style — detailed orchestral work, use of musical elements drawn from the natural and ritual life of rural China, programmatic content, and rigorous modernist structural principles are all still present, but they are merged and treated in new ways.
— James Manheim, All Music

“In Tan Dun’s [Wolf Totem], a concerto for double bass, East meets West in an unlikely, high energy romp. The live performances and recordings are top of the class.”
– Richard Fairman, Financial Times

“This is a “don’t miss” release.”
— Raymond Tuttle, Classical Net Review, 2002

“For collectors of contemporary, sacred, or just extraordinary music, this album must be experienced. It may be a masterpiece for the ages.”
— Gerald Brennan, All Music Review, 2002

“A World Symphony for the Millennium (Sony Classical), is a brilliantly adventurous dramatic score that will musically inform both the live events as Jan. 1 dawns, as well as some prerecorded video to be shown during the 27-hour telecast.” — The Times Union (Albany, NY); December 30, 1999

“…its [Tan Dun: The First Emperor ] all-stops-pulled-out Met production is a heartening testimony to the institution’s commitment to new work, and this two-DVD set beautifully documents the production.”

— Stephen Eddison, Allmusic, 2008

“Marco Polo is one of Tan Dun’s most inspired, successful and spectacular efforts. For those new to his artistry, this DVD would make a fabulous introduction. For those who already enjoy the composer’s work, this release will be a benchmark for years to come. ”

— Arlo Mckinnon, Opera News, November 2009 , vol 74 , no.5

“Very nice indeed, with quite dramatic close-ups for the necessarily choreographed movements amongst the paper percussion soloists,”

— Alan Titherington

“Imagine trickling drops, fish playing in a stream, rhythms of waves lapping or crashing to shore and around dock posts, kids splashing in a bathtub, water dripping off eaves into puddles, the songs of dolphins and whales – there is no limit to the images these sounds can bring.”

— Nanaimo News Bulletin, April 20, 2011

“The Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon soundtrack is every bit as big a masterpiece as the film from which it comes.”
— Kevin Lynch, Capital Times, November 29, 2000

“…this is a first-rate recording of a first-rate performance. Don’t miss it.”

— Peter T. Sipos, DVD Talk

Sharon Isbin’s world premiere recording of concertos written for her by Christopher Rouse and Tan Dun received a 2002 GRAMMY Award, and Germany’s prestigious ECHO KLASSIK AWARD.

“The combination of Dun’s moody multinationalism and Rouse’s spirited sonic spires makes this a potent disc.”
— Tim Smith, The Baltimore Sun, May 31, 2001

“Interpretative skills and a cross-cultural flair that’s incredibly rare for twenty-something musicians.”
— Baltimore Magazine

“Speed? Clarity? Timing? Finesse? Ensemble playing? It turned out the Beijing Guitar Duo had it all.”
— Fanfare Magazine

“A World Symphony for the Millennium (Sony Classical), is a brilliantly adventurous dramatic score that will musically inform both the live events as Jan. 1 dawns, as well as some prerecorded video to be shown during the 27-hour telecast.”

— The Times Union (Albany, NY); December 30, 1999

“Vividly recorded with echoes of Stravinsky in his neo-classical vein”

— Adrian Edwards, Gramophone, December 2006

“The performances of these often beautiful works are excellent throughout and the recording is quite fine. There is much splendid music-making to be enjoyed in this very fine release. Well worth more than the occasional hearing”

— Hubert Culot, Musicweb International

“The combination of a solo stringed instrument and an all-percussion ensemble might seem an unlikely one, but the three works on this very enjoyable disc prove that is can be something of a revelation.”

— David Kettle, The Strad

“…the faive works recorded here show Tan to be an original and authentic master. They are dramatic and colorful, by turns lyrical and powerful, and at all times personal.”

— John Holzaepfel, American Music, Vol. 14, No. 2, Summer, 1996

“Musically I found the CD to be excellent.”
— Marian F. Grant, Amazon Editorial Review, September 23, 2005

“…to the exotic and invigorating (Tan Dun’s wild Chinese opera “Nine Songs Ritual Opera,” the latter excerpted on CRI’s new retrospective disc, “The Composer-Performer”)…”

— Heidi Waleson, Classical Keeping Score, October 22, 1994

“Dun incorporates a great variety of musical styles, from traditional Chinese opera to Western grand opera, from symphonic to folk writing, from tonality to microtonalism. A Netherlands Radio performance has just been released on CD by Sony Classical, and it’s a fascinating preview.”

— Robert Croan, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 1997

“There is some really fine music making going on here, offering evidence of both a big technique and a big heart behind the flashing finger work […] The range of repertoire here, from Haydn to Tan Dun, is as impressive as the technical ease with which Lang Lang plays it all, sounding as fresh by the evening’s end as he does at its opening.”

— David Hurwitz, Classics Today

“Hero may well bring Mr. Dun his second Oscar. It’s a remarkable film and a remarkable score.”

— Olin Chism, The Dallas Morning News, August 29, 2004

“Hearing Tan Dun conduct these highly complex and far-flung pieces is to marvel both at the mind that conceived them and the musician that masterfully interprets them. The BBC Scottish Symphony responds with brilliant, razor’s edge playing from all sections. Koch’s recording captures the enormous dynamic range (from human whispers to full orchestral blasts) with stunning fidelity, making this disc a sure-fire demonstration item.”

— Victor Carr Jr; Classics Today

“Tan’s electrifying score represents one composer’s uninhibited rummaging through the musical attic, appropriating what he needed without worrying about where it came from, how it had been used in the past, what its authentic context should be.”

— Mark Swed, LA Times, November 29, 1999

“Those who only cottoned to Tan Dun after his success several years after this recording, with the soundtrack to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, should enjoy this carefully considered, meditative piece.”

— Brian Olewnick, All Music Review, 1997

“…the results are dramatic, optimistic and at turns spiritual and intellectual.”
— Carol Simmons, Dayton Daily News, August 1, 1997

“…it [Tea: A Mirror of Soul DVD] is a convincing and quite lovely production of a very curious but moving work. I enjoyed it.”
— D. Moore, American Record Guide, August 2005

“Tan Dun’s Opera ‘Tea’ on DVD is an amazing experience”
— Erik Voermans, Het Parool, (Amsterdam), Tuesday January 4, 2004

“As well as the complete premiere performance, held outdoors in a remote rural village on platforms above a river with lanterns floating by, this DVD includes a documentary on the assembly of the video sequences and the preparations for the concert. The concert itself is a remarkable event, sociologically and musically, but the documentary insight into the various folk traditions is fascinating.”

— Barry Witherden, BBC Music Magazine, April 2005

“Wu Man is fully conversant with Chinese performance etiquette and how performance élan may tip a recital into another, extra-musical dimension … proof positive is this exceptional studio recording of traditional and contemporary [Chinese] pieces. Five Stars.”

— Classic CD