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EDITIONS DILECTA
Robert Wilson & Philip Glass: Einstein on the Beach
Foreword by Robert Wilson.
Debuting at the Avignon Festival in France in 1976, Robert Wilson and Philip Glass’ Einstein on the Beach completely reinvented opera, synthesizing the musical and theatrical avant-gardes of its time into one spectacular five-hour extravaganza. Colossal in ambition, length and scale, it appeared on paper to obey all the conventions of opera--four acts, the singers on the stage, duets, choirs, an orchestra pit--but it drastically departed from them in all other respects. Einstein on the Beach had no plot, the singers did not play characters, the music was minimalist and repetitive, and connections between the images and the music were also fairly minimal. Nonetheless, the opera successfully stormed the gates of classical opera and seized the public imagination. Following its 1976 premiere, the work was staged twice, in 1984 (at the Brooklyn Academy of Music) and 1992 (at Princeton)--and then, for the first time in 20 years, it was performed in January 2012 at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, an event that paved the way for an official tour that commences in March 2012, with stops in London, Toronto, Brooklyn, Berkeley, Mexico City and Amsterdam. This anniversary volume gathers previously unpublished material that includes Robert Wilson’s original workbook, sketches and storyboards annotated with Philip Glass’ notes, as well as photographs from the opera’s various world tours. Together these documents illustrate the genesis of a collaboration that created a revolution in contemporary opera.
Featured image is reproduced from Robert Wilson & Philip Glass: Einstein on the Beach.
STATUS: Out of stock indefinitely.
STAFF REVIEW
The most famous anecdote about Philip Glass is that around the time Einstein on the Beach premiered in the U.S., at the Metropolitan Opera in 1976, he was driving a cab. Performing and composing music didn't earn him enough money to pay his ensemble. Call it genius, stubborn or mad, but Glass has always done precisely what he wants. Einstein on the Beach (1976) is an opera in four acts, scored by Glass and directed by theatrical producer & artist Robert Wilson. It's only been shown a handful of times since its premiere. This anniversary volume gathers previously unpublished material that includes Robert Wilson's original workbook, sketches and storyboards annotated with Philip Glass' notes, as well as photographs from the opera's various world tours. Einstein on the Beach,/I> will be getting lots of press starting this summer, as a large North American tour is planned. -- Alexa Forosty Artbook | D.A.P. Staff
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FORMAT: Hbk, 11 x 8 in. / 160 pgs / 82 color / 14 b&w. LIST PRICE: U.S. $60.00 LIST PRICE: CANADA $79 ISBN: 9791090490048 PUBLISHER: Editions Dilecta AVAILABLE: 9/30/2012 DISTRIBUTION: D.A.P. RETAILER DISC: TRADE PUBLISHING STATUS: Out of stock indefinitely AVAILABILITY: Not available TERRITORY: NA ONLY
Robert Wilson & Philip Glass: Einstein on the Beach
Published by Editions Dilecta. Foreword by Robert Wilson.
Debuting at the Avignon Festival in France in 1976, Robert Wilson and Philip Glass’ Einstein on the Beach completely reinvented opera, synthesizing the musical and theatrical avant-gardes of its time into one spectacular five-hour extravaganza. Colossal in ambition, length and scale, it appeared on paper to obey all the conventions of opera--four acts, the singers on the stage, duets, choirs, an orchestra pit--but it drastically departed from them in all other respects. Einstein on the Beach had no plot, the singers did not play characters, the music was minimalist and repetitive, and connections between the images and the music were also fairly minimal. Nonetheless, the opera successfully stormed the gates of classical opera and seized the public imagination. Following its 1976 premiere, the work was staged twice, in 1984 (at the Brooklyn Academy of Music) and 1992 (at Princeton)--and then, for the first time in 20 years, it was performed in January 2012 at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, an event that paved the way for an official tour that commences in March 2012, with stops in London, Toronto, Brooklyn, Berkeley, Mexico City and Amsterdam. This anniversary volume gathers previously unpublished material that includes Robert Wilson’s original workbook, sketches and storyboards annotated with Philip Glass’ notes, as well as photographs from the opera’s various world tours. Together these documents illustrate the genesis of a collaboration that created a revolution in contemporary opera.
