Akhnaten

Akhnaten (1984) completes his operatic trilogy on revolutionary figures, following Einstein on the Beach and Satyagraha. It tells the story of the pharaoh who introduced monotheism by worshipping the Sun god, Râ. Award-winning countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo stars in the title role, with Rihab Chaieb as Nefertiti.

With texts in ancient Egyptian, Hebrew and Akkadian—including a poem by Akhenaten himself—the opera traces his reign, from rise to fall. Glass’s mesmerising minimalist score captures the psychological, political and spiritual dimensions of the character, with iconic scenes like the Coronation and deeply emotional laments.

Set around 1350 BCE, the production by Phelim McDermott (ENO, MET) features stylised choreography, juggling by Gandini Juggling and exquisite costumes by Kevin Pollard. A landmark premiere: hypnotic music and rich visual poetry.