Earth, stars for 2004 Glass music
Two concerts at the Lycabettus Theater were only part of the story of Philip Glass’s recent presence in Greece. The American composer, known for his musical experimentations – he is considered by many as the father of musical minimalism – has now been commissioned by Cultural Olympiad officials to compose an original score, to be presented in a world premiere in Greece in June 2004. Lasting approximately 90 minutes, the work’s theme will be based on the relationship between the earth and the universe, and the way this relationship is perceived by different cultures around the world. Initially, the piece will be interpreted by the composer’s own orchestra, The Philip Glass Ensemble, with the participation of a number of guest musicians from around the world. According to the proposal, these artists include musicians both familiar and popular in Greece, such as Anoushka Shankar, daughter of legendary sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar, Senegal-born Youssou N’Dour, and Australian Aborigine Mark Atkins, among others. Eventually, the musical score will be presented in both Athens and Thessaloniki, though neither of the venues have been determined at this stage – all that is known so far is that custom-made lighting and other props and effects will complement the music’s atmosphere. The American composer is scheduled to return to Greece in November in order to scout possible locations. Born in Baltimore, Philip Glass has spent the last 35 years building a career based on original compositions destined for a variety of cultural expressions, including works for recitals, opera, scores for films, theater and ballet.
