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- Thursday, October 25, 2012
Philip Glass, Robert Wilson's "Einstein on the Beach" Makes West Coast Debut with Three Sold-Out Berkeley Performances
Philip Glass and Robert Wilson's groundbreaking opera Einstein on the Beach receives its West Coast premiere, nearly four decades after it was first performed, with three sold-out performances at Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall this weekend. PBS Newshour marked the occasion with a look at this groundbreaking work and the career of its composer, which you can watch here. This weekend's performances of Einstein on the Beach are part of a major international tour that heads next to Mexico City, Amsterdam, and Hong Kong.
- Friday, September 14, 2012
Philip Glass, Robert Wilson's "Einstein on the Beach" Returns to NYC with Eight Performances at BAM
Philip Glass and Robert Wilson's Einstein on the Beach, widely credited as one of the greatest artistic achievements of the 20th century, launched its creators to international success when it was first produced in Avignon, France, in 1976. Now, 20 years since its last production, as part of an international tour, Einstein on the Beach returns to New York with eight performances at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), tonight through September 23.
About this Album
This CD box set is available for sale in the Nonesuch Store; however, free, instant album MP3 downloads, included with other discs in the Store, are not currently available with box sets.
Philip Glass is one of America’s best-known living composers, with a career that spans more than four decades and includes chamber music, symphonies, operas, concerti, film scores, and music for dance. On September 30, Nonesuch Records, which has had a relationship with the composer for more than 20 years, releases Glass Box—a 10-disc retrospective of compositions from his groundbreaking career. Excerpts from Glass’s largest and best-known works, like his operas Einstein on the Beach and Satyagraha, are included in the set, along with selections from beloved ensemble pieces like his string quartets and symphonies, Music in Contrary Motion, and Music in 12 Parts. Highlights from Glass’s scores to the Godfrey Reggio films Koyaanisqatsi and Powaqqatsi are included, along with portions of the scores from Kundun, The Thin Blue Line, The Hours, and The Fog of War.
In addition to the 10 discs of music, Glass Box includes a 191-page booklet with a note from the composer, archival photos, libretti, texts, and several appreciations by longtime colleagues and admirers of Glass’s music, including Paul Simon, Errol Morris, David Byrne, Chuck Close, Laurie Anderson, and David Harrington. Music scholar Keith Potter, journalist Tim Page, and Nonesuch Records President Bob Hurwitz also contribute essays examining the nature and impact of Glass’s work. The CDs and booklet are packaged in a cube covered on five sides with classic images of Glass by five leading artists who have all been associated with Glass during his career: Chuck Close, Robert Wilson, Francesco Clemente, Robert Mapplethorpe, and Annie Leibovitz. Glass Box was produced by Robert Hurwitz, Kurt Munkacsi, and Michael Riesman; the package was designed by Peter Buchanan-Smith and Josef Reyes for Buchanan-Smith LLC. For a better look at and inside the box, click here.
In his essay, Hurwitz writes, “Philip is a very social man, whose character stands apart from the solitary artist who works in a more abstract way. Practically every piece he has written ... were born out of a friendship or partnership with another artist, usually from a different discipline. There is no better place to start than the music written for The Philip Glass Ensemble—it was written with specific musicians in mind, about a community of highly skilled and creative artists who had as much to do with traditions in Indian music as with the Western classical tradition.
“The list of artists with whom Philip has collaborated is extensive and impressive, but there have been a few of these relationships that have helped change the world. One could not imagine Einstein on the Beach without Bob Wilson. One could not imagine the Qatsi films without Godfrey Reggio,” Hurwitz continues. “He has worked with many great musicians, but his relationships and collaborations with Dennis Russell Davies, the Kronos Quartet, and, most significantly, Michael Riesman, have created a new repertoire. It is an honor and a privilege for me personally to have known Philip for so many years, and for Nonesuch to be able to present so many of these important artistic relationships in the Glass Box.”
Credits
MUSICIANS
Disc One—Philip Glass, electric organ, alto flute. 2: Barbara Benary, electric violin, voice; Steve Chambers, electric organ; Jon Gibson, electric organ, soprano saxophone, flute, voice; Dickie Landry, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, piccolo, flute, voice; Kurt Munkacsi, engineer, electronics; Arthur Murphy, electric piano; Robert Prado, trumpet, flute, voice. 3: Steve Chambers, Art Murphy, electric organs; Jon Gibson, Dickie Landry, soprano saxophones; Robert Prado, flute; Kurt Munkacsi, engineer, electronics
Disc Two—The Philip Glass Ensemble, Michael Riesman, musical director, keyboards; Lisa Bielawa, voice; Jon Gibson, Andrew Sterman, soprano saxophone, flute; Philip Glass, keyboards; Martin Goldray, keyboards; Richard Peck, alto and tenor saxophones
Disc Three—The Philip Glass Ensemble, Michael Riesman, musical director; chorus; solo voice: Marion Beckenstein, Katie Geissinger; Kristin Norderval; spoken text: Lucinda Childs, Sheryl Sutton, Jasper McGruder, spoken text
Disc Four—1, 2: Michael Riesman, piano, synthesizer; Jack Kripl, saxophone. 3: Miles Green, keyboards. 4: Michael Riesman, piano soloist, conductor; Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra. 5-13: Philip Glass, Farfisa, Yamaha, and Hammond organs, Fender Rhodes piano, arp, synthesizer. 5-10: Dickie Landry, soprano and tenor saxophones, flute; Joan La Barbara, Gene Rickard, voices. 11-13: Iris Hisky, vocals
Disc Five—The New York City Opera Chorus and Orchestra, conducted by Christopher Keene; Douglas Perry, tenor; Claudia Cummings, soprano; Rhonda Liss, alto; Robert McFarland, baritone; Scott Reeve, bass; Sheryl Woods, soprano; Rhonda Liss, alto; Scott Reeve, bass; Robert McFarland, baritone
Disc Six—1-6: Conducted by Michael Riesman; Albert de Ruiter, bass vocal; The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble; Members of The Philip Glass Ensemble. 7-14: Foday Musa Suso, kora, balafon, dousongoni, nyanyer, kari nyan; Shaikh Fathy Mady, vocal solo; Al DeRuiter, bass voice; Joe Passaro, Sue Evans, Roger Squitero, Valerie Naranjo, percussion; Hispanic Young People’s Chorus, Angélica Rosa Sepúlveda, musical director
Disc Seven—1-4, 7-11, 14-16: Kronos Quartet: David Harrington, violin; John Sherba, violin; Hank Dutt, viola; Joan Jeanrenaud, cello. 5, 6, 12, 13: Philip Glass, piano
Disc Eight—1: American Composers Orchestra, Dennis Russell Davies, conductor; Denyce Graves, mezzo-soprano; Sondra Radvanovsky, soprano; Zheng Zhou, baritone. 2-7: Martin Goldray, keyboards; Carol Wincenc, flute; Andrew Sterman, soprano sax, bass clarinet; Frank Cassara, James Pugliese, percussion; Elizabeth Futral, soprano; Michele Eaton, soprano; Mary Ann Hart, mezzo-soprano; Richard Fracker, tenor; Gregory Purnhagen, Nathiel Watson, baritone; Allen Ginsberg, narrator; Philip Glass, piano. 8-11: Stuttgart State Opera Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Dennis Russell Davies; Assistant Conductor: Anton Zapf; Chorus Master: Ulrich Eistert
Disc Nine—1-4: Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Dennis Russell Davies. 5-7: Bruckner Orchester Linz, conducted by Dennis Russell Davies
Disc Ten—Conducted by Michael Riesman. 1-3, 14-16: Kronos Quartet: David Harrington, violin; John Sherba, violin; Hank Dutt, viola; Joan Jeanrenaud, cello. 4, 5: The English Chamber Orchestra (Harry Rabinowitz, conductor) with additional soloists. 6-9: Dhondup Namgyal Khorko, Tibetan horns and cymbals; Gyuto Monks; Monks of the Drukpa Order; musicians. 10, 11: Jeannie Gagné, Dora Ohrenstein, sopranos; Patricia Dunham, Linda November, altos; David Düsing, David Frye, tenors; Alexander Blachly, Bruce Rogers, baritones; musicians. 12: The Philip Glass Ensemble, Michael Riesman, conductor, musical director, keyboards. 13: Michael Riesman, conductor, keyboards; musicians. 20: Michael Riesman, piano; Chris Laurence, double bass; orchestra conducted by Nick Ingman; Lyric Quartet
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Glass Box
Produced by Robert Hurwitz, Kurt Munkacsi, and Michael Riesman; all recordings produced by Kurt Munkacsi and Michael Riesman
Compilation edited and mastered at The Looking Glass Studios, NYC; Assistant Engineer: Ichiho Nishiki
Design by Peter Buchanan-Smith
![The Hours [Soundtrack]](http://www.nonesuch.com/files/imagecache/section-artists-albumsforsale/albums/coverart/glass-the-hours-soundtrack.jpg "The Hours [Soundtrack]")
![Koyaanisqatsi [Soundtrack]](http://www.nonesuch.com/files/imagecache/section-artists-albumsforsale/albums/coverart/glass-koyaanisqatsi.jpg "Koyaanisqatsi [Soundtrack]")
![Kundun [Soundtrack]](http://www.nonesuch.com/files/imagecache/section-artists-albumsforsale/albums/coverart/glass-kundun-soundtrack.jpg "Kundun [Soundtrack]")
![The Secret Agent [Soundtrack]](http://www.nonesuch.com/files/imagecache/section-artists-albumsforsale/albums/coverart/glass-secret-agent-soundtrack.jpg "The Secret Agent [Soundtrack]")
![Anima Mundi [Soundtrack]](http://www.nonesuch.com/files/imagecache/section-artists-albumsforsale/albums/coverart/glass-anima-mundi.jpg "Anima Mundi [Soundtrack]")
![The Thin Blue Line [Soundtrack]](http://www.nonesuch.com/files/imagecache/section-artists-albumsforsale/albums/coverart/glass-thin-blue-line-soundtrack.jpg "The Thin Blue Line [Soundtrack]")
![Powaqqatsi [Soundtrack]](http://www.nonesuch.com/files/imagecache/section-artists-albumsforsale/albums/coverart/glass-powaqqatsi-soundtrack.jpg "Powaqqatsi [Soundtrack]")
![Mishima [Soundtrack]](http://www.nonesuch.com/files/imagecache/section-artists-albumsforsale/albums/coverart/glass-mishima-soundtrack.jpg "Mishima [Soundtrack]")