Robert Wilson Archive

PHILIP GLASS & ROBERT WILSON: Einstein on the Beach, Blu-ray (2016) 

by Audiophile Audition | Dec 31, 2016 | DVD & Blu-ray Video Reviews

Still Philip Glass’ most important work in a stunning production! PHILIP GLASS & ROBERT WILSON: Einstein on the Beach, Blu-ray (2016)  Production: Chatelet Theatre, Paris Performers: The Philip Glass Ensemble/The Lucinda Childs Dance Company/Antoine Silverman, Helga Davis, Kate Moran/Michael Reisman (cond.) Robert Wilson (stage director)/ Don Kent (screen director) Studio: Opus Arte (2 discs) [10/28/16] (Distr. by Naxos) Video: 1.33:1 (4:3) color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1, PCM Stereo Length: 263 min. Ratings: Audio: ***1/2  Video: ****  Like it or not, Einstein on the Beach remains Philip Glass’ most defining work. It is what gave him a large amount of name recognition and – at the time – ‘word on the street.’  I first became aware of Einstein in 1976, mainly by reading new music journals. I quickly bought the vinyl set of the original cast recording on the now defunct art label, Tomato Records, which I still have to this day. Einstein on the Beach is the work that paved the way for Glass’ work going beyond the small and somewhat sparsely attended concerts of his ensemble (of which I attended several) to his film scores such as the still powerful Koyaanisqatsi and the more “true” opera, Satygraha.  It […]