Work Information
| commissioned by the Spoleto Music Festival USA, Charleston, SC and the American Music Theater Festival, Philadelphia, PA |
| Work Notes |
Music-theatre piece by Philip Glass, Allen Ginsberg and Jerome Sirlin.
Libretto (English) by Allen Ginsberg. |
Publisher |
Dunvagen Music Publishers Inc |
| Category |
Opera and Music Theatre |
Sub-Category |
Operetta / Musical Theatre |
| Year Composed |
1990 |
Duration |
1 , 30 |
| Solo Voice(s) |
2 Sopranos, Mezzo Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Orchestration |
ssx(fl).ssx(tsx.bcl)/2perc/2syn(pf) |
| Languages |
English |
Availability |
Hire Explain this... |
| Discography |
Here... |
Programme Note
SYNOPSIS Drawing upon Ginsberg's poetry, this music/theatre piece is a portrait of Amercia that covers the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's, seen by the collaborators Glass, Ginsberg and Sirlin. Its content ranges form highly personal poems of Ginsberg to his reflection on social issues: the anti-war movement, the sexual revolution, drugs, eastern philosophy, environmental awareness. The six vocal parts represent six archetypal Amercian characters - a waitress, a policeman, a businessman, a cheerleader, a priest, a mechanic.
Reviews
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Twenty-one years after its premiere, the work remains provocative for its critiques of misjudged wars, corporate abuses and political flimflammery, and its embrace of homosexuality and drug use. Glass's score has his familiar undulations and pulsings, but also surprisingly lush harmonies....gathering emotional intensity.
Scott Cantrell, Opera, 01/10/2011
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