A Composer's Notes: Philip Glass and the Making of an Opera

Philip Glass, whose roots are in New York 's musical avant-garde, has grown into an artist of international stature whom The Times has called 'the most individual force in American opera since Virgil Thomson.' A Composer's Notes takes the form of an interior monologue as Glass allows us an intimate look at the inspiration, development and production of this third opera Akhnaten. John Rockwell, in The New York Times, writes: 'Philip Glass is enjoying a career right now that seems unparallelled since the glory days of Puccini 75 years ago.', and says of the German production of Akhnaten: 'Most of this score is simply wondrous in refinement and imagination.' For people unfamiliar with Glass' music, listening to excerpts with the composer providing clear and insightful commentary helps to bridge the gap. Blackwood's film is a successful introduction.