Organization

Tenor (+1)

Aaron Blake

High Priest Amon

Bass (+3)

Richard Bernstein

Baritone (+5)

Will Liverman

Horemhab

Soprano

Dísella Lárusdóttir

Queen Tye

Mezzo-soprano (+3)

Rihab Chaieb

Neferttiti

Countertenor (+6)

Anthony Roth Costanzo

Akhnaten

Choreographer

Sean Gandini

Video

Set designer (+3)

Tom Pye

Lighting designer

Bruno Poet

Costume designer

Set designer (+1)

Kevin Pollard

Set designer

Stage director

Actor (+1)

Phelim McDermott

Conductor

Conductor (+1)

Karen Kamensek

Bass (+8)

Zachary James

Amenophis

Lindsay Ohse

1. Daughter

Soprano (+1)

Katrina Thurman

2. Daughter

Mezzo-soprano (+2)

Chrystal E Williams

3. Daughter

Annie Rosen

4. Daughter

Olivia Vote

5. Daughter

Suzanne Hendrix

6. Daughter

Chorusmaster

Donald Palumbo

English National Opera

The Metropolitan Opera

Chorus

Metropolitan Opera Choir

Orchestra

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra

Metropolitan Opera House

Philip Glass’s mesmerizing modern masterpiece—a smash-hit in its 2019 company-premiere run—returns in Phelim McDermott’s unforgettable production, which brings ancient Egypt to vivid life with striking stage tableaux and a troupe of jugglers. Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo reprises his celebrated turn as the revolutionary pharaoh Akhnaten, with mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb as his wife and queen, Nefertiti. Once again at the helm is conductor Karen Kamensek, a noted master of Glass’s music.Akhnaten is one of Philip Glass’s three large-scale operas based on a “big idea,” in this case monotheism, following Einstein on the Beach, which dealt with new notions of time and space, and Satyagraha, which explored the spiritual and political revelation of non-violence. Satyagraha and Akhnaten, especially, deal largely with the unseen forces affecting the inner (psychological), interpersonal (political), and universal (mystical) aspects of existence, subjects that are uniquely portrayed by the composer’s entrancing musical lines.Akhnaten is one of Philip Glass’s three large-scale operas based on a “big idea,” in this case monotheism, following Einstein on the Beach, which dealt with new notions of time and space, and Satyagraha, which explored the spiritual and political revelation of non-violence. Satyagraha and Akhnaten, especially, deal largely with the unseen forces affecting the inner (psychological), interpersonal (political), and universal (mystical) aspects of existence, subjects that are uniquely portrayed by the composer’s entrancing musical lines.The score of this opera is lyrical, elegiac, and, while clearly a product of its famous composer (whose intricate, repetitive sonic textures unfold differently than most other classical music), is among the most easily appreciated of his creation. The vocal lines also tend toward the melodic, even if they are original and remarkable. The enigmatic title role is sung by a countertenor, and the chorus also has an important role throughout, appearing as priests in the beginning, people of Egypt throughout, and the spirits of the departed at the end.

New York City

United States

Akhnaten Glass

Staged

Opera

Béarla

Spáinnis

Gearmáinis

Audio and video recordings of the Met’s breathtaking 2019 production of Philip Glass’s Akhnaten—starring countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo in the title...

Philip Glass’s Akhnaten

Approved

Léirmheasanna