Ictus & Collegium Vocale Gent olv. Georges-Elie Octors & Tom De Cock

‘Einstein on the Beach’ (1976) is a legendary ‘portrait’ opera by Philip Glass. Robert Wilson’s scenography and direction of the première at the Festival d’Avignon are amongst the most groundbreaking ever seen on a stage. The opera contains texts by Christopher Knowles, Samuel M. Johnson and Lucinda Childs. It was Glass’s first and longest opera (five hours). In the album recording, this has been reduced to just over three hours and this sober, semi-staged version by the Dutch installation artist Germaine Kruip is likely to be of a similar length. On stage will be an icon of American music, singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega. She will perform a personal interpretation of the libretto and act as a narrator linking all the different elements of the work.