Following Kennedy Center Cancelation, Philip Glass’ ‘Lincoln’ Symphony Set for Boston Symphony Orchestra Premiere

(Credit: By Pasquale Salerno) The Boston Symphony Orchestra will give the world premiere of Philip Glass‘s Symphony No. 15, “Lincoln,” on July 5 at 2:30 p.m. at Tanglewood. The eight-movement symphony is conducted by Karen Kamensek, with baritone Zachary James as soloist — both making their Tanglewood debuts. The work draws on some of Lincoln’s most significant texts, opening with {…}

Jan 27, 2026

Philip Glass Cancels World Premiere Symphony at the Kennedy Center

Philip Glass has pulled his new symphony from the National Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming June concerts at the Kennedy Center. The famed composer released a letter stating, “After thoughtful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my Symphony No. 15 “Lincoln” from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Symphony No. 15 is a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and the {…}

Jan 26, 2025

Vancouver Opera to Celebrate Philip Glass with Special Concert

Vancouver Opera is set to present “88 Years, 88 Keys: Celebrating the Music of Philip Glass.” The free concert will be held on Jan. 31 at the Martha Lou Henley Rehearsal Hall and will be part of Vancouver Opera’s VOICES concert series and is supported by TD. In a statement, Tom Wright, General Director of Vancouver Opera said, “Philip Glass’s music {…}

Mar 8, 2024

Northern Ireland Opera 2023-24 Review: The Juniper Tree

Fairytales have not been kind to stepmothers. Usually depicted as jealous, manipulative and vicious, with a predilection for maltreating, disinheriting and murdering their stepchildren, stepmothers are probably on par with another favorite hate figure of the genre, the wicked witch. A typical example is found in “The Juniper Tree,” taken from Grimms’ Fairytales, published in 1812. This stepmother is not {…}

Oct 27, 2023

Trekking Through American Opera (Part One)

(Photo Credit: Scott Suchman) Throughout this new series, we will be looking at the history of American opera beginning in the 2000s to the present through a revisit of certain iconic works of the decade and OperaWire’s coverage of them throughout the 21st century. In this first part, we will look at the development of American opera during the 2000s, {…}

Apr 13, 2023

NYU Skirball 2023 Review: Tao of Glass

(Photo Credit: NYU Skirball) “Tao of Glass,” starring actor and director Phelim McDermott with music by Philip Glass, premiered at NYU’s Skirball Theater this past week. I had the pleasure of attending the show on Friday, March 31st, 2023. Though the performance suffered from a technical malfunction—which I will address later in my article because it affected the performance—it is {…}

Oct 12, 2022

Moore Opera Center to Showcase Glass’ ‘La Belle et la Bête’

(Credit: By Pasquale Salerno) Moore Opera Center in Houston, Texas will showcase Philip Glass’ “La Belle et la Bête” starting on Oct. 20, 2022. This represents the Texas premiere of the full-orchestra version of the work, which gives Jean Cocteau’s iconic film an operatic interpretation. In the opera, Glass replaces the original dialogue with his own music with the singers {…}

Apr 20, 2022

Opera Maine to Present ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’

Opera Maine is set to present Philip Glass’s “The Fall of the House of Usher” on June 29 and July 1, 2022. The cast includes Marcel Sokalski as William, Joseph Tancredi as Roderick Usher, Gabrielle Clutter as Madeline Usher, Miguel Pedroza as Servant, and Joseph Sacchi as Physician. The opera will be conducted by Jackson McKinnon and directed by Richard {…}

Mar 29, 2022

Philip Glass Awarded BBVA’s Fronteras del Conocimiento

The award of the Fundación BBVA Fronteras del Conocimiento in Music and Opera has been given to Philip Glass. The award which is celebrating its 14th edition recognized the composer for his contributions to music and opera in the 20th and 21st centuries. The jury noted that Glass has a distinctive and innovative style and has worked alongside different cultural {…}

Feb 8, 2022

Centro Cultural de Bélem 2022 Review: Orphée

Philip Glass celebrated his 85th birthday last week on January 31, and Lisbon’s Centro Cultural de Bélem joined a handful of worldwide performances honoring the great American maverick composer with a dazzling world-class production of his early opera “Orphée,” composed in 1991 and part of Glass’ groundbreaking trilogy of operas based on films by French poet and filmmaker Jean Cocteau. {…}

Jun 23, 2021

Annette Dasch, Patrizia Ciofi, Ève-Maud Hubeaux & Levente Molnár Lead Opéra Nice Côte d’Azur’s 2021-22 Season

(Credits: Opéra Nice Côte d’Azur official website) L’Opéra Nice Côte d’Azur has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is a look at the operatic and vocal performances. Opera “Réunion de Famille” features music and arias from “Akhnaten,” “La Dame blanche,” “Macbeth,” and “Le Voyage dans la lune,” and spotlights the Choeur de l’Opéra Nice Côte d’Azur. Daniele Callegari conducts. Performance date: {…}