PHILIP GLASS: »EINSTEIN ON THE BEACH«

Half a century after its premiere in Avignon in 1976, Philip Glass's Einstein on the Beach enjoys cult status and was recently described by the Los Angeles Times as "the most important opera of the last 50 years." The work completely subverts the genre, even abandoning Wagner's powerful concept of the Gesamtkunstwerk: there is no continuous plot, but rather seemingly timeless and spaceless soundscapes interspersed with enigmatic text fragments. These are performed by the American singer Suzanne Vega, who achieved worldwide fame with her songs Tom's Diner and Luka. The orchestra and chorus are the ICTUS Ensemble from Brussels and the legendary Collegium Vocale Gent, founded by Philippe Herreweghe in 1970. The performance concept focuses on the composition with its minimalist but complex structures, while simultaneously highlighting the extraordinary spatial design of the Festspielhaus.

SUZANNE VEGA NARRATOR
COLLEGIUM VOCALE GENT
ICTUS
TOM DE COCK CONDUCTOR
ALEXANDRE FOSTIER SOUND DIRECTION

Philip Glass Einstein on the Beach. Opra in four acts (concert performance in English)