4 - Philip Glass and Einstein on the Beach

Summary

Tony and Gus spend a night at the opera! Join us as we discuss Philip Glass, the celebrated composer, and one of his greatest works, Einstein on the Beach. This opera represents the life of Albert Einstein by exposing the viewer to minimalist and repetitive instrumentation, impressive feats of vocal work, and elegant and purposeful dance. In particular, Tony and Gus discuss the opera through the lens of “Knee Play 3”, a track that exists at almost the exact middle of the opera, which Tony once performed and has a lot of respect for. Einstein on the Beach is a favorite piece of music of Tony’s, and Gus agrees that it is an experience to behold, for fans of opera and fans of minimalist music alike.