Work Information
Philip Glass : Akhnaten (reduced orchestration)
| Work Notes |
Opera in three acts.
Libretto (Egyptian, Arcadian, Hebrew, and language of the audience) by the composer in association with Shalom Goldman, Robert Israel and Richard Riddell. Vocal text drawn from original sources by Shalom Goldman. |
Publisher |
Dunvagen Music Publishers Inc |
| Category |
Opera and Music Theatre |
Sub-Category |
Opera |
| Year Composed |
1983 |
Arranger / Editor |
Timothy Sexton |
| Duration |
3 Hours |
Solo Voice(s) |
Baritone, Bass, Countertenor, 4 Mezzo Sopranos, 4 Sopranos, Tenor |
| Chorus |
SATB chor |
Orchestration |
3perc/4kbd |
| Languages |
Arcadian, Egyptian, Hebrew |
Availability |
Hire Explain this... |
Programme Note
GLASS: Akhnaten
(reduced orchestration, arr. Sexton)
Keyboard 1: synthesizer
Keyboard 2: winds
Keyboard 3: brass
Keyboard 4: strings
Percussion 1: tom-toms 1, 2 (Act 1.i), tubular bells (Act 1.iii)
Percussion 2: tom-toms 3, 4 (Act 1.i), bass drum (Act 1.iii)
Percussion 3: cymbals (Act 1.iii)
The third in Glass' trilogy of operas about men who changed the world in which they lived they through the power of their ideas, Akhnaten's subject is religion. The Paraoh Akhnaten was the first monotheist in recorded history, and his substitution of a one-god religion for the multi-god worship in use when he came to power was responsible for his violent overthrow. The opera describes the rise, reign, and fall of Akhnaten in a series of tableaux.
© Philip Glass
Principal characters:
Akhnaten - countertenor
Nefertiti - alto or mezzo-soprano
Queen Tye - high soprano
High Priest of Amon - tenor
Horemhab - baritone
Aye - bass
Secondary parts:
Six Daughters of Akhnaten - 3 sopranos, 3 mezzo-sopranos
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