The Philip Glass Ensemble

To be both experimental and listener-friendly at the same time is no easy feat in the world of contemporary classical music. 

And though his work may continue to divide the masses, pioneering American composer Philip Glass is still managing to pull that off. Well into his 80s. 

Here are some things you should probably know about Philip Glass, the founding father of minimalist music:

• After shunning the conventions of classical music in the 60s and 70s, Glass was rejected by the academic crowd (they found his work too simplistic and experimental);
• That’s okay though. Because former President Barack Obama is a huge fan, along with Pink Floyd, Beck and Daft Punk. David Bowie too was pro-Philip (in 1997, Glass composed a symphony inspired by Bowie’s album Heroes); 
• His back catalogue features contributions from Paul Simon and Patti Smith;
• Glass wrote the awesome score for The Truman Show.

Now that you’re up to speed, let us tell you the good news.

The Philip Glass Ensemble, the group formed by Glass in 1968 as a laboratory for his music, lands at the Stavros Niarchos Hall in December for a one-off concert that will take you down the rabbit hole into this great composer’s unique musical universe.

Centre-stage will be a Glass work long considered lost, Music in Eight Parts (1970), which the ground breaking composer was forced to sell to pay off debt.

Music in Eight Parts will be joined by other seminal Glass compositions: selections from the operas Einstein on the Beach and The Photographer, and one of his enduring favourites, Glassworks. 

The Philip Glass Ensemble began life performing in the small galleries and lofts of the restless art community of Soho, New York. During the past 50 years, they have celebrated the bold spirit of their founder in some of the world’s most famous music venues.