Akhnaten

[jackal59]

This is the first time I've heard anything from Akhnaten, and while it's pretty, I don't get any sense of where it *goes*. I'm afraid, though, that I might find it doesn't go anywhere. Likewise, I love the first scene of Satyagraha, but my attention drifts after that. I guess I just don't like Glass as an opera composer. Impressive performance, though.

[toriatama6nen]

こ、これは・・・Queen Teeへ萌えろという旨の編集でございますか！

[ebony1911]

Is there a video of this complete performance? And in English? After Puccini and Strauss and Porgy, this is the 20th century's most consistantly beautiful and Melodic opera. I'd pay whatecver was asked for a DVD of it, especially, Akhnaten's prayer. Ebony1911@yahoo.com

[markbargen]

Do you happen to recall the name of the countertenor? If I remember correctly, there were two casts. The one I remember was rather tall, slender, red-haired, and had a beard or goatee. I remember holding my breath in anticipation of his entrance, and then being stunned by the clarity of his tone.

[markbargen]

Thanks for posting. I had the good fortune to see this production. The voices were all excellent, and I especially liked Sylvan's staging, much more than the Zimmerman Boston Lyric in 2000 (I think). Very different perspective, treating it as a family drama rather than an abstract or political story. I think this is Glass' most accessible opera, though I do consider Satyagraha to be a more important work.

[Max0Inq]

Awesome music, but choosing countertenor for the main voice of the opera is quite stange choice. Maybe Glass wanted to copy the early music custom when main roles were sung by castratos.

[vilgessuola]

@Max0Inq Philip Glass said: 'The attraction for me in using a countertenor... must be obvious. The effect of hearing a high, beautiful voice coming from the lips of a full-grown man can at first be very startling. In one stroke, Akhnaten would be separated from everyone around him. It was a way of musically and dramatically indicating in the simplest possible way that here was a man unlike any who had come before.'

[Max0Inq]

@vilgessuola Thank you for explanation :)

[Blackboilingrobotoil]

Boring. Of course the Egyptians were NOT black. This is a tired non-issue. We have mummies. We know who they were. There is no mystery about it. There was most definitely at least ONE black dynasty, which the Egyptians themselves made mention of has an exception, but there were also some, like Ramesses II, who actually had red hair. Does that prove they were Celtic? The Egyptian people were just that; Egyptian. People need to stop believing what they want to believe. It’s shitty science.

[shreiberrulz]

Since when do you have - in any type of serious theatre production - the Conductor actually blocking the view onto the stage?? Is she that insignificant that being such an idiot is the only way people will ever notice her?? Because, I'll tell 'ya, placing her slap in front of what one has paid some cash to go see, is the only way she'd become noticeable - her 'conducting' is pretty much crap!

[shreiberrulz]

Since when do you have - in any type of serious theatre production - the Conductor actually blocking the view onto the stage?? Is she that insignificant that being such an idiot is the only way people will ever notice her?? Because, I'll tell 'ya, placing her slap in front of what one has paid some cash to go see, is the only way she'd become noticeable - her 'consucting' is pretty much crap!

[Blueyedbelle]

@shreiberrulz This was performed at the Boston Conservatory. This is the way the stage is set up. The school doesn't have enough money to build a pit up to your standards. But you are welcome to donate $100,000 to do so. In the mean time I wouldn't be so judgmental and instead enjoy the genius of conductor Beatrice Jona Affron, who has conducted for Boston Lyric opera and has been a cover conductor for the Boston Symphony.

[PunguinYoga]

@Blueyedbelle "But you are welcome to donate $100,000 to do so."

Funny response. Thanks for making me laugh.

[Blueyedbelle]

Honestly, I posted this to showcase my own performances in the opera. Since this performance is copyrighted, I am not able to show entire scenes. My apologies.

[PunguinYoga]

@Blueyedbelle Thanks for doing so.

[AnthonyFVitale]

I'm 57, just survived a liver transplant last year (cancer), and am still awaiting an opportunity to see this most transcendent opera here in the States. I mean, really, I saw Mr. Glass outside a bodega in NYC a couple of years ago, and I almost got on my knees to beg him. Why? One of the most beautiful pieces of music in history!

[ishdance]

@AnthonyFVitale If you are in California, Im dancing in it.  this and following weekend

[AnthonyFVitale]

@ishdance Wow, an American performance! I'm in the NYC area, unfortunately, but please, if you get any video clips, it would be great if you can YT them ... or let me know how I can buy a DVD of your performance! Bono fortuna!

[Blueyedbelle]

@ishdance Where are you performing it? Very curious.

[ishdance]

@Blueyedbelle

It was last week at Long Beach P A the Terrace. Long Beach Ca

[JoobiZat]

@AnthonyFVitale You saw Philip Glass at a bodega?  Was he buying bread? :)

(That's a joke, a reference to the play "Philip Glass buys a loaf of bread". I love his music!

[lilaspastia1]

Thank you for posting this - the only actual performance of the opera on YouTube. Why doesn't anyone post the fabulous coronation scene at the end of Act 1? For my money it's even better than the love duet between Akhnaten and Nefertiti.

[khoften]

Dear Ms. Lawrence.

Thank you for posting this. I was in Chicago Opera Theater's Production back in 2000 (incidentally also conducted by Maestra Affron) and truly enjoyed being reminded of this powerful music. Blessings on you and your musical career! :)

[RGKLEIN21]

This iis one of the most glorious pieces of music I have ever listened to!

especially beginning at aproximately 1.05 until 3:09!

[MattDawg579]

Woh... the guy playing Akhnaten is so hot! Awesome countertenor too.

[TH3D1R3CTOR]

***these were your words 4 days ago*** "The native Egyptians were not white or black. If you actually believe that, you'll believe anything!" ***these are your words 2 hours ago*** "I'm not contradicting myself, I'm not being ignorant, and finally, I do do my own research. In fact, I spend a good chunk of my day studying history. I know who the Nubians are, I know they were a great civilization, I do know they were BLACK. ***and yet you're not contradicting yourself??? please leave me alone...

[Blueyedbelle]

Hey dudes, this was just an opera I was in. No race issues here. Just bc I happen to be white doesn't mean I can't portray a character in one of Phillip Glass' best operas. Meant for pure entertainment only. Thanx.

[TH3D1R3CTOR]

the white civilization could never represent or even amount to what black egyptians have done...this is a disgrace

[vilgessuola]

@TH3D1R3CTOR What have black Egyptians done? I'm curious.

[TH3D1R3CTOR]

@vilgessuola you're on a computer...do your own research

[vilgessuola]

@TH3D1R3CTOR The internet is full of stupid conspiracy theories and unsubstantiated claims. No reason to trust what you find here. What exactly are you asserting? Why is this opera a disgrace? To whom is it a disgrace?

[Wastedgrunt]

@TH3D1R3CTOR The native Egyptians were not white or black. If you actually believe that, you'll believe anything!

[TH3D1R3CTOR]

@Wastedgrunt oh im sorry i thought egypt was in afrahkem (africa), oh im sorry i thought the Caucasoid called africans black? smh -_- how bout you research what you were taught to believe. the race of specific notable individuals from Dynastic times, including Tutankhamen, Cleopatra VII and also the model for the Great Sphinx of Giza. n gosh, dont reply to me, it's annoying that i have to even type this info for you..

[Wastedgrunt]

@TH3D1R3CTOR If you look at a race map of the world, or just use common sense, you would know that northern Africa is not black. Yes, Nubian, Greeks and Romans all blended in with the Egyptians, but this was later on. Also, archeologists have proof that Tutankhamen and Cleopatra aren't black. I may specialize in the Napoleonic era. But I know at least this much.

[TH3D1R3CTOR]

@Wastedgrunt Nubia is the homeland of one of Africa's earliest black civilizations, with a history which can be traced from 5000 B.C. onward through Nubian monuments and artifacts as well as written records from Egypt and Rome. Ancient Egyptian portraits depicted the Nubians as having very dark skin, and were often shown with with braided or extended hair. In antiquity, Nubia was a land of great natural wealth, of gold mines, ebony, ivory and incense which was always prized by her neighbors.

[TH3D1R3CTOR]

@Wastedgrunt look wasted grunt, i had to wiki that for you...could you please just do your own research before you post something that contradicts your own statement? whatever the Caucasoid wants to call those with MORE melanin, black, niggers, negros, dark skinned, or w/e racist remark to make US seem like the negative humans...the fact still remains that Egyptians had nothing to do with the Caucasoid...and the fact remains that the melanated soicety all came from afrahkhem (africa)

[TH3D1R3CTOR]

@Wastedgrunt lmfao, Tutankhamen sculpture's are found ALL BLACK! dude, don't be so ignorant!

[Wastedgrunt]

@TH3D1R3CTOR I'm not contradicting myself, I'm not being ignorant, and finally, I do do my own research. In fact, I spend a good chunk of my day studying history. I know who the Nubians are, I know they were a great civilization, I do know they were black. Wikipedia doesn't say that the majority of Egyptians were black, and I didn't have to look that up. But I respect your opinions, and were both entitled to our own. Just to clarify, you mean to say that most Egyptians are Nubians?

[GentlemanGhost1]

@TH3D1R3CTOR

Of course all the Cleopatras were not black because they were descendants of Ptolemy I Soter ,the Macedonian Pharaoh of Egypt ,but Tutankhamen was black for sure because in every single wall painting in his tomb, he is portrayed as being black ,and he was from the 18th Dynasty. .

[DaStraightTheaterGuy]

Wow! You guys are the whitest Egyptians EVER and look silly in the costumes!!!! Get a tan.... PLEASE! And why is there a Druid chorus? lol OMG White people can play any role with very little regard to the race of the actual person(s) being portrayed. I am not white and I can NEVER get roles like that! Must be nice.

[Viniagrette]

@DaStraightTheaterGuy It's opera you moron. Made by upper echelon whites for upper echelon whites. I'm sure that if Philip Glass had access to a full assortment of authentic egyptian opera performers he may have gone that route. Most opera performers are white. The subject matter is Egyptian. Deal with it, faggot, and stop crying about your race.

[magicer57]

Superbe musique ! A quand cet opéra en DVD ?

[Blaquieres]

Voilà une oeuvre minimaliste qui n'est jamais assez représentée ... Une musique qui allie modernisme et classicisme, avec une possiiblité de timbres et de nuances inouies.

[seansotheman]

Thanks. I'm only familiar with the music by itself.

[XYmar89]

thank you for sharing

lovely opera about ancient egypt

[hartnell114]

in all honesty i prefer the german preformance mroe than this, the spoken words also feel more fitting in german than english, however the recording of the german preformance sounds (to me) vastly different, from the film recording of the preformance.

[gbittner]

wonderful i first saw this in chicago Stunning!