What to do with Beach Glass?

What's so great about Philip Glass's "Einstein on the Beach"?

• I love it, but am curious why people enjoy it so much. What makes it so great, the history behind it, and other reasons it is admired? Please tell me things I should know about the ...show more

• Answer:

  First, not a whole lot of people think ‘Einstein On The Beach’ is as great as you do. I’m not saying it is or it isn’t, but just remember that Phillip Glass isn’t for every taste. So I’ll give you a little insight, based in part on fact, in part on personal opinion. Many of the people who don’t like the music of Phillip Glass often think he’s not much more than a con man, a hack, a composer with limited talent who can’t actually write serious classical type music, who can’t compose music for a full 80 instrument orchestra, wouldn’t know poly-rhythms or harmony or consonance if it bit him in the butt. Some think he writes minimalist music because that’s the extent of his abilities. Just like some artists become abstract painters because they don’t have the actual technical abilities to create more realistic or figurative renderings. I tend to agree with this line of thought for one reason: There are two rather well known ‘minimalist’ composers, Phillip Glass and John Adams. The difference between the two is this: John Adams does compose minimalist music, but also composes intricate, polished, sophisticated and fully orchestrated works. Phillip Glass has never proved that he can compose more sophisticated music. As to the opera ‘Einstein On The Beach’ I’ve seen this production in person, saw it as a production of the Long Beach Opera. My personal opinion about this opera is that it is, indeed, powerful in it’s own right. But what makes it a compelling opera is the staging, the historical figures themselves and the inter-woven story line. I find Phillip Glass’ actual score to be boring, repetitious and pretentious. I suggest you take the time to listen to some John Adams compositions. You can start with his last one, a commissioned work premiered by the LA Phil last fall. It’s called ‘City Noir’ and it's what neo-classical (minimalist) music can sound like when advanced abilites are applied.