Philip Glass: Einstein On The Beach Music

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by: Philip Glass, Jon Gibson, Marion Beckenstein, Lisa Bielawa, Lucinda Childs, Gregory Dolbashian, Michele A. Eaton, Gregory Fulkerson, Katie Geissinger, Martin Goldray

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Customer Reviews
Average Rating: Rating: - One, Two, Three . . . Einstein on the Beach is hardcore Philip Glass with its frenzied (and repetitive) pace, nonsensical poems, and exhaustive length. While this opera helped propel his fame, I would not recommend diving into it if you are looking for an introduction to what Philip Glass writes. Personally, I discovered and grew to love this music through the compilation CD, Songs from the Trilogy. It is cheaper than any recording of these three operas and lets you hear the best of what they have to offer. Of the three, I think Einstein on the Beach is the most difficult to appreciate and even after purchasing, it sat on my shelf. Yet, over time, I begin to hear more than the "One, two, three" and violins sawing away: there's a delicate sound beneath it all. Akhnaten and Satyagraha have this quality as well, but it's easier to hear at first listening. So if you're a casual Philip Glass listener, be prepared to not like Einstein at first because it is so much different than his more recent releases. For die-hard Glass fans, this recording is the longer (and cheaper) of the two available. If you enjoy his Music in Twelve Parts and other earlier works, this opera is a real treat. Since Einstein is such a monumental piece in the Glass library, it's a must buy. But if you're looking for something less hardcore, try Songs from the Trilogy. I gave five stars because when compared to other music, it's still awe-inspiring, but when compared to other Philip Glass music, especially the other two operas, it rates three stars. Rating: - If you've got 40 spare dollars and don't know what to do... Einstein on the Beach is completely amazing. I had listened to it as background music before buying my own copy. As background music, it didn't move me. As a Glass-fan, I found it good, but nothing special. I then sat down and actually listened to it. After the three CDs had played, I found my view completely changed. The sheer beauty of the opera was astounding. In some parts, like the Knee Plays, the music was layered with a heavy coating of both optimism and gloom, yet retained its musical "simplicity". This is the thing about Einstein on the Beach that makes me think it is one of the greatest pieces of music ever. The music has so much emotion in it, yet it is almost impossible to discern what type of emotion. Sometimes it feels extremely lonely and in a few seconds, within the same musical recursion, it feels lofty and light. The spoken texts compliment this feature of the music so well. If you enjoy Philip Glass or any other good music, and want a beautiful work that touches every emotion you have without overloading feeling or ever clearly expressing any emotion at all, buy this. NOW. Rating: - Masterpiece This is the work that really made Glass, and that will make his reputation in perpetuity; an opera that completely reimagined operatic narrative. While it's never the same just to listen, especially to this piece, listening is a great reward. It is both free-flowing and episodic, abstract in nature, without true characters or plot. Yet it is dramatic, great music. At times overpowering, especially in the Train scene, the combination of Glass' Minimalist style [with much more variation and harmonic content than most would give him credit for] and the simple devices of chanted numbers, solfege syllables and brief, repeated monologues is indescribably effective. The wonderful sound of the opera should appeal to all sorts of music lovers. This is the second recording, with an earlier one on Sony. Glass felt it needed to be rerecorded, and this version is longer, fuller in sound and mroe measured in performance, and cheaper, but it's a tough choice, each is powerful and satisfying.

Philip Glass: Einstein On The Beach Music

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