The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word PREMIERE
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
P
R
E
M
I
E
R
E
More clues leading to the result PREMIERE
- Significant performance, very good, that’s included rapid sort of movement before
- Price set by music company once before opening
- Publicity by record company before first performance
- Film maker Otto’s no good having left English first night
- Piano with two notes before first performance
- PM, English, gives first performance
- Piano engineers repeatedly fixing notefor significant performance
- Show one empire in ruins? Rome’s out of order!
- North, say, and East getting early screening
- First appearance of rime, peer curiously
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "first night" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case first night = premiere.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does PREMIERE mean?
PREMIERE noun- The first showing of a film, play or other form of entertainment, often held as a special event with celebrity guests.
- The first episode of a television show or a particular season of that show.
- In a series of narrative works, the installment that is chronologically set first.
- The leading woman of a group, especially in a theatrical cast.
- Of a film or play, to play for the first time.
- To present a film or play for the first time.