In Focus: Glass's Akhnaten

Learn more about Akhnaten, Philip Glass's acclaimed opera based on the young pharaoh who transformed ancient Egypt, with the Met's In Focus podcast, hosted by Met radio commentator William Berger.

[@Hoswendt]

Just saw it on stage tonight! And Philip Glass showed up for the premiere himself!!! Wept real tears!!!

[@ferramatteo]

Same!!! a night to remember for many reasons.

[@sgillies1219]

@@ferramatteo Yes! I was there too. such a treat

[@blackmarketgoodness5715]

That is so amazing - I saw it five days ago - so amazing

[@MimiStudio22]

Can’t wait to see it this Wednesday.

[@monicacall7532]

This opera absolutely has to be seen! I first saw it in a movie theater in December 2019 and was so moved by the experience that I told my husband that if the Met did it again I wanted to go see it live. We saw the closing night of the May-June 2022 run and brought our younger son plus some friends who’d had the same experience as we had watching the Live broadcast in 2019. It was the most spiritual operatic experience I’ve ever had. Our group was outright weeping by the end, and we weren’t alone. You could hear audible sniffles throughout the auditorium. After the final note died away there was the most incredible silence that, at first, nobody wanted to break. It was beyond all description. When the spell wore off the entire audience erupted into prolonged and appreciative applause. Phillip Glass coming onto the stage to be acknowledged made the entire experience even more perfect and so memorable. My son, who’s not been a fan of opera, was beyond impressed by the experience and couldn’t wait to call and text friends about the opera when we returned to our hotel. We and our friends will definitely be returning when Akhnaten plays again. BTW congratulations on winning the Grammy for best opera performance. It is richly deserved. Bravo to everyone who has made Akhnaten the most memorable opera experience of my entire life!

[@ihopetowin]

For me the work of Philip Glass is a glory, it tantalises. "Open are the double doors of the horizon; unlocked are its bolts."

[@alicemorrison1518]

Never has an opera so captivated me. I stayed up all night during the last night of the streaming during the pandemic, watching and crying... then flew to NYC for the encore performance a year later.

[@stevemichael8458]

I've just got home from seeing this production at the English National Opera in London this evening. I didn't know the work but wow. What an incredible 3 hours - musically and visually. Amazing.

[@magdolnanegyesinefenyvesi4256]

I saw this opera during the pandemic period and I was totally mesmerized by it. I am very grateful for the Met for streaming wonderful operas during those diffficult days. Thanks to this project I could see this opera more times. Every time I saw it I found something unique and wonderful.

[@johnharrison6745]

Then, you're easily entertained and enthralled.

[@Aldo.flores]

This is my favorite opera, it accompanied me my whole life specially over the 2 years that it took me wrote my thesis is on architectural acoustics. The work made by McDermott it’s truly beautiful and very outstanding, he took a masterpiece and converted it in to a visual mesmerizing adventure, full of details and many scenic elements that perfectly relates the life and legacy of the most important and forgotten pharaoh in story.

[@johnharrison6745]

It's a load of twisted, decadent horse droppings, "historically supported" by wild speculation about imagery and statements that most people don't know enough about to interpret.

[@FABCASTLE]

Wow, that's definitely an incredible topic for a thesis!!! Congrats!! Is it available anywhere? I'd love to deep dive into knowing more about the making of this piece.

[@aw8354]

This is my jam. A man erased from history, in a culture that so valued preservation.

[@scottledbetter7212]

I have come to really appreciate and enjoy the works of Mr Glass.

[@theogoldberg8919]

GRATEFUL FOR EVER TO THE MET STREAMS DURING COVID. I HAVE SEEN IT ALL FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS! EVEN WHEN I WAS SINGING IN PRODUCTIONS I ALWAYS TOOK THE TIME TO TREAT MYSELF THANKS TO GLORIOUS GORGEOUS GREAT MET !!!💘💘💘💘💘

[@AlanSpackman]

What a trancey trip of an opera! My favorite opera of all time- so grand, so enigmatic, roll over Beethoven!

[@MillyToast]

I just saw this on Tuesday 4th April 2023 mattinee and absolutely loved it!

[@nicholasm5465]

How was it 'relaxed' - are you aware of what changes they made? I wondered if he would be clothed for the first entrance?!

[@tneprescintr]

This production looks amazing

[@aliegan2109]

This opera is wonderful

[@johnharrison6745]

It's twisted, decadent garbage.

[@brendonmcmorrow3886]

I quite agree. It has a hypnotic quality all its own.

[@Realbeatz86]

I saw this opera on NYC’s tv channel called All Arts and the stage design and setting of the opera was … hypnotically majestic and beautiful. As an actress who studied and obtained a BA in theater at CUNY Hunter, I took a scene design course and it helped me to understand and appreciate the concepts of theatrical design for the stage and applied them as I watched this operatic piece of theater unfold in front of my eyes.

[@johnharrison6745]

"Blah; Gibber; Blather": It's twisted, absurd propaganda and celebration of current-day grotesquery.

[@valeriesmith5780]

Quite the description; thank you.

[@jrock2720]

I am going in 4 days and cannot wait! I will post my layman's review.

[@jilldailey4560]

Thank you 🙏🏻 This is amazing!❤️🙋‍♀️

[@mortalclown3812]

Never knew the history of this opera. It opened musical/visual art for me. What's it called when body cells change amid experiencing art? There oughtta be a name.

[@Alun49]

I am seeing this production in London on the 18th March 2023. I bought the opera when it was first released, may years ago. I saw Satyagraha last year, and Einstein on the Beach many years ago. I am really looking forward to the experience! The production looks amazing!

[@Royalbrettania]

how was it ??? im going next week 29/03.23

[@Alun49]

@@Royalbrettania Excellent! A really good production indeed! You will have a great evening I think!

[@Jaydoggy531]

When the met was having their free broadcasts during the pandemic, I always shared the link to this telecast if it was on. As with anything there was a mixed response as to whether it was their personal style, but they were always blown away by the presentation, stagecraft, and of course the jugglers with a general conclusion of "Didn't know opera had that kind of action!"

[@johnharrison6745]

It's natural to be "blown away" by such twisted decadence.

[@alicemorrison1518]

Bless you and all the others who shared the link. I found it accidentally on twitter during the last hours of the free broadcast's availability and it has changed my life.

[@lkbwheewhee53]

Otherworldly, like a visitation in a dream.

[@hurdygurdyguy1]

I am sorely disappointed I missed the movie theater presentation from a month or so ago 😭

[@lizvorlicek1192]

A recorded version will play in theaters in the US on July 26, 2023. It looks like a high end production. Might have to check it out!

[@josefnitervol6415]

I went to that last night, and it was epic. yet not many people in the theater for it. But plenty of barbie movie fans were there all dressed in pink! lol

[@historyforfun27]

GOOD

[@declup]

How do the jugglers recover if they drop a ball?

[@annhatchet3799]

It happened a few times when I saw it in the fall of 2019… they just let it roll away and mimed the rest !

[@theogoldberg8919]

@@annhatchet3799 🤩

[@johnharrison6745]

Anthony Roth Costanzo apparently dropped BOTH of his.....

[@sneakyflutes]

The chorus, who aren't professional jugglers, drop them occasionally. It's not a big deal--they just mime the motions. It's the ritualistic rhythm of the motions all that matters.

[@lkbwheewhee53]

I saw it three days ago, not one ball was dropped that I could see.

[@ZeroGravityFuneral]

*Akhenaten *Henotheism not monotheism

[@brucekuehn4031]

No sax, no violins!

[@johnharrison6745]

Those would be the LEAST of its problems.....

[@miramacanovic6435]

Are you sure

[@historylover2]

I am sorry, but as a student of Opera and Egyptology am I allowed to say that I did not like this opera?

[@BellaFirenze]

You are. I did not like it either.

[@martymar9311]

👁️