Akhnaten (ENO)

[Conchis]

I was at the first night last night (yes, I know it's a revival) - what an outstanding production!

[VodkaDilc]

I was at the first night last night (yes, I know it's a revival) - what an outstanding production!

I agree. I saw it last time round and I'm going again next week. One of the best opera productions I've seen in my 53 years or so of opera-going.

[MickyD]

Oh how I wish I could get there. But very much hoping that this time there will be a video recording of it.

[VodkaDilc]

Oh how I wish I could get there. But very much hoping that this time there will be a video recording of it.

It was on Radio 3 last time, but it really needs to be seen to get the full impact. A video recording would be wonderful. Unusually, the Telegraph had a pre-first night photo yesterday, so I am hoping to see a review in the next few days. Having said that, the Telegraph critic is often quite superior and dismissive about the productions I like. I've forgotten his name, but I think he'd be happy in a world of wall-to-wall Mozart.

[Conchis]

It was on Radio 3 last time, but it really needs to be seen to get the full impact. A video recording would be wonderful. Unusually, the Telegraph had a pre-first night photo yesterday, so I am hoping to see a review in the next few days. Having said that, the Telegraph critic is often quite superior and dismissive about the productions I like. I've forgotten his name, but I think he'd be happy in a world of wall-to-wall Mozart.

Rupert Christiansen?

[Conchis]

The critics are writing (love) poems about this revival - and, for once, I'm in complete agreement!

More importantly, I think it's turned me from a Glass sceptic into a Glass fan. On that basis alone, it can be judged a complete success.

[MickyD]

I think it is a wonderful work, by far my favourite piece by the composer.

[Dave2002]

I have now, at great expense, booked a seat. It’d better be worth it! I shall be on tenterhooks in the following few days wondering if Maurizio Pollini will turn up at the RFH. I decided to splurge on that as well.

[VodkaDilc]

For what it's worth, I saw Akhnaten and Pollini several years ago. I have rushed to see Akhnaten again, but don't feel like making the effort for Pollini.

Just reporting my personal tastes. Others might feel differently.

[Bella Kemp]

So good to see ENO with another success! And it is a glorious opera.

[bluestateprommer]

Anthony Roth Costanzo has this commentary on the opera in The Grauniad:

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/feb/12/singing-philip-glass-akhnaten-anthony-roth-costanzo-naked-pharoah

(Perhaps the telling sign is 145 comments on it so far.)

Bonus: Martin Kettle's 4-star review: https://www.theguardian.com/music/20...-mcdermott-eno

[Bryn]

Oh how I wish I could get there. But very much hoping that this time there will be a video recording of it.

Perhaps the Met production, scheduled for this year, will get video streamed at some point. Available ticket prices are way beyond my budget for such a piece. I was lucky enough to have been given a comp. for the original E.N.O. production. It was alright, but Glass was already past his best by then, for my money. Einstein on the Beach was, and remains, of far greater interest to me, both musically and as stage work.

[Richard Barrett]

I was lucky enough to have been given a comp. for the original E.N.O. production. It was alright, but Glass was already past his best by then, for my money. Einstein in the Beach was, and remains, of far greater interest to me, both musically and as stage work.

I saw the old production too - remembering it now, I'm wondering at all the praise this work is getting here: it seemed to me to consist mostly of a watered down version of Glass's previous music, turned out by the yard and muddily orchestrated, then overlaid with vocal lines that were almost totally lacking in imagination. I must have been missing something important. What was it?

Great subject for an opera though.

[Conchis]

I saw the old production too - remembering it now, I'm wondering at all the praise this work is getting here: it seemed to me to consist mostly of a watered down version of Glass's previous music, turned out by the yard and muddily orchestrated, then overlaid with vocal lines that were almost totally lacking in imagination. I must have been missing something important. What was it?

Great subject for an opera though.

I think the 'watering down' (or dilution) of Glass's style may be what is selling it. I'd suggest this is probably a good 'entry level' work for people wanting to explore the Glass world. It does contain some 'pop music' (the Akhnaten/Nefertiti duet which trendy couples might be able to use as a tune for the 'first dance' at their wedding/civil partnership receptions) and Akhnaten's Act 2 monologue.

Having explored the other operas and orchestral works, they may decide that Akhnaten is actually 'Glass ordinaire' but, by then, it will have done its work.

[MickyD]

I was manager of Film Operations at LWT back in the 80s and organised crews to shoot some extracts at ENO for a South Bank Show programme on the opera. Gnashing my teeth now that I wasn't interested at the time to go along to rehearsals!