Becoming Akhnaten

Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo discusses "Akhnaten."

[@dictaphonediaries911]

We recently watched this stunning presentation live in HD on the big screen. It was deeply felt with it's otherworldly sonics, pacing and decor. Not sure if I'll ever be able to see it performed in person yet watching the Met in HD is it's own unique experience and I'm delighted to have experienced it that way. indeed! :-)

[@FJMLAM]

He is an amazing counter tenor and actor.

[@hakonsoreide]

I am still a bit disappointed I had to miss the Met Opera live screening of this. The music is amazing, and the little glimpses of staging are out of this world. While I usually love watching opera, Akhnaten is probably about the only one I truly enjoy just listening to as well, and there is something uniquely captivating about this particular production. I hope it will be available on DVD some day.

[@invisibleharness]

Fabulous. Can't wait to see it.

[@JKSinTO]

Stunning performance; stunning opera!

[@Wilantonjakov]

I never saw this performance which I deeply regret, but there are no recordings that I can find on the internet. Not even ones that I would sacrifice dear money to. Seriously, when it comes to Akhnaten live recordings, they are almost nonexistent.

[@annalisa14]

I worship the sun. I want to study this pharaoh more deeply.

[@weststories1179]

I USE MY PHoNe To listen

[@weststories1179]

ONE day i wiLL sing like you

[@weststories1179]

SiR

[@robinblankenship9234]

Well, isn't that special?

[@clare5one]

WHY SHAVE his head when the pharaoh's hair was sacred?

[@patriciaganiere2689]

Akhnaten didn’t really create a new religion at all. Nor a monotheism like Islam. His theology is for the most part very ancient, that of Heliopolis. God, the Creator is Khepri djes ef, Rê, Atum, He who is existing by Himself, Light, Perfection. He is not the sun itself (iten, which was not worshiped and had no sanctuary), but the sun is only his symbol. Akhnaten was thus, more an heretic who refuses an invisible and transcendant God (Amen Rê, The Hidden Light), and chose a visible and immanent one.

[@jesuspectre9883]

According to Egyptologists, this is all wrong. Achnaten didn't choose to mandate the sun god because of some sincere, inspired, radical, spiritual belief. He chose the sun god because he was a ridiculous, posing, attention-getting propagandist. There are historical documents which show that he appeared in public only when the sun hit his balcony so that he would appear mystical and sun-kissed. Come on. That's some serious narcissism-- and that's rich material for an opera, but it's completely ignored in this masturbatory cringefest. He had artisans at the time fashion sculptures of him as a half man half beast or half man half woman, which is great, but can we see a little bit of his image-engineering behind the scenes in this story? It's far more interesting to see this public figure falsely manipulating a public image than in this where he does nothing but raise his hand toward a large prop sun, slowly. And by slowly, I mean you better pack a lunch. This whole opera tries to make this joker appear to have some mystical power and some valiant anti-establishment vision, and really he was a self-involved West Hollywood poser who wears a new outfit once and returns it to the store for a refund on Monday. This opera could have been full of humor, full of rich social commentary on public figures like Trump and Achnaten, and how they manipulate public perception with statuary and architected public appearances. Completely contrived and synthetic image buiding. But we get none of that. One of the most laughably self-important and shallow operas ever written.

[@I_leave_mean_comments]

Costanzo was woefully miscast as Akhnaten. It's such a shame... the character is supposed to be strong and driven. Instead, they cast the most femme 'man' in existence. Ugh.