Einstein rewired what an opera could be, and hearing the Glass Ensemble play it is as close to a primary source as this repertoire gets. Stripped of Wilson's tableaux, the additive rhythms and the counted numbers and solfege syllables become the whole event, stranger and more hypnotic than a staged version. If you have wondered why Glass matters, the Opera House with Es Devlin's installation is the argument.
What to expect
A concert performance in the Howard Gilman Opera House by the Philip Glass Ensemble with amplified organs, winds and voices. The music is repetitive by design and builds through slow-shifting cycles rather than plot. Es Devlin's installation supplies the visual frame in place of staging.
Good to know
- The Peter Jay Sharp Building is at 30 Lafayette Avenue; the 2/3/4/5/B/Q/R to Atlantic Ave-Barclays Center or the C to Lafayette Ave are closest.
- This is a concert, not the staged opera, so there is no Robert Wilson production to follow.
- Glass's writing is amplified and loud in places; earplugs are worth carrying if you are sensitive.
- BAM members get first access to tickets and a discount on singles.
- Buying three or more BAM performances as a bundle reduces the per-ticket price.
- Wheelchair seating and assistive listening are available through BAM's box office.
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Common questions
Is this the full staged opera?
No. It is a concert performance by the Philip Glass Ensemble with an installation by Es Devlin rather than Robert Wilson's staging.
How long does it run?
Einstein is famously long in its staged form; the concert presentation is shorter, and BAM lists timing on the performance page.
Do I need to know the piece?
No. It has no narrative to follow, which makes it unusually approachable for a first-time listener willing to sit inside the sound.
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