Akhnaten Review

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Akhnaten ReviewAkhnaten is a modern masterpiece in every way, and deserves a place in the standard repertory. Forgoing conventional narrative structure, this opera explores the controversial reign of Akhnaten through various tableau showing the Pharaoh overthrowing the religious establishment and founding a new order based on Atenism, and early form of monotheism.
Glass also explores both the controversial Oedipal and incestuous dimensions of the Pharaoh's rule, depicting his decay into a state of undifferentiated "familial" bliss using a vocalese-based musical language charged with pure emotion. Indeed, the whole opera uses music and langauge in amazing new ways, underscoring complex states of psychological being and various power relationships by contrasting languages and vocalese as well as intricate musical plotting. The fact that Akhnaten is scored for a countertenor is a stroke of genuis in itself, highlighting his almost alien nature as well as sexually controversial personality.
This opera hits at a primal level, and I cannot recommend this recording more highly. So many moments are charged with beauty, mystery, and power: the thundering funeral scene, the heartbreaking countertenor/soprano/contralto trio in the famous "Window of Appearances," the glorious Hymn to the Sun, the eerily beautiful "Family Scene," the climactic fall of Akhnaten.... simply wonderful.
I also recommend John Richardson's book about the opera, "Singing Archeology." Though somewhat overly academic in tone, it provides an invaluable key for understanding this incredible work.
I applaud both the Boston Lyric Opera and the Chicago Lyric Opera for bringing it back to American opera houses.Akhnaten Overview

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Philip Glass and Foday Musa Suso: The Screens Review

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Philip Glass and Foday Musa Suso: The Screens ReviewFoday Musa Suso, esteemed African composer, had a great role in co-composing this music. What he & Glass did was literally work on each line of music together, writing a note or a few notes before the other had his turn at it. The result is something they were both very pleased with & which neither could have composed on his own. The work is brimming with Glass's repeated figures, but it's not music you might expect from him. Exotic, dry, often ethereal, it'll coat your dreams at night with a fine white sand.Philip Glass and Foday Musa Suso: The Screens Overview

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Kundun: Music From The Original Soundtrack Review

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Kundun: Music From The Original Soundtrack ReviewThis is vintage Glass. If you like "Koyaanisqatsi", you should like "Kundun". Like all of Glass's work, this one takes some time to get into, but once you've heard it, it becomes compelling, hypnotic, even addictive.
One of the reviewers below complains that this music isn't Tibetan enough. This is like complaining that Beethoven doesn't use Flemish folk songs enough. If you want traditional Tibetan music, buy some. If you want Philip Glass, buy "Kundun".
It's true that the music is vaguely reminiscent of "Koyaanisqatsi". This is not necessarily a bad thing, "Koyaanisqatsi" being one of Glass's greatest works.
Some of the music is also reminiscent of Bernard Herrman's score for "Journey to the Center of the Earth". Since Glass is a Minimalist instead of a Romantic like Herrman, however, don't expect to hear the great bursts of emotion you find in "Journey to the Center of the Earth". On the other hand, Herrman followed the action of the movie so closely that his score sounds like a series of unconnected pieces. "Kundun" is far more unified, and you feel like you've heard a symphony when it's over.
One of the reviewers complains that the orchestra doesn't seem to contain many Tibetan instruments. I wonder how many Westerners can recognize Tibetan instruments when they hear them. If you look at traditional non-Western instruments all over the world, you find the same general themes over and over again: flutes (like the Andean pan-pipes), horns (like the Tibetan horns heard in this music), drums, and stringed instruments (like the Chinese biba or the Japanese koto). It takes a sensitive ear to hear the difference between one of these instruments and the Western equivalent.Kundun: Music From The Original Soundtrack Overview

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The Illusionist Review

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The Illusionist ReviewI have just seen the wonderful new movie "The Illusionist" which was amazing in its own right. However I must say that the new score by Philip Glass enhances its impact considerably. For many, the genius composer has already produced his masterpiece with "The Hours" score. That is a wonderful work of art but I always felt his music suited better to period pieces, the only example of which up until now was his score for "The Secret Agent". Returning home I immediately played that album and I was sure of my opinion. Both his scores for The Secret Agent and The Illusionist have a grand baroque feeling in them, incredibly operatic and sensual as well. They sweep the listener effortlessly into a bygone area and almost tell the story of the film by themselves. One could watch both films without any dialogue and effects and can still feel satisfied with the end result. I take my hat off to the directors of the aforementioned films for their willingness to put aside all their egocentrical concerns and submit the outcomes of their months-spanning efforts to a man who obviously goes and tells the story of their films with music once again. Bravo Mr. Glass for this amazing new score!!!!The Illusionist OverviewMusic From The Film The Illusionist features an original score by acclained modern minimalist composer Philip Glass. Glass' renowned restrained, yet elegant style has captivated audiences around the world for years. "The soundtrack to The Illusionist is a driving force to the movie," comments director Neil Burger. "There are many scenes and sequences without dialogue and it falls to the music to tell the story." Glass recorded the original score with a large orchestra, which results in an emotionally driven and epic soundtrack.Glass' sophisticated music has been featured in numerous movies throughout his career, earning him many awards and critical praise.Award winning writer/director/actor Edward Norton stars alongside Jessica Biel and Paul Giamatti in The Illusionist.

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