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Akhnaten

Gran Teatre del Liceu: AuditoriumLa Rambla, 51-59, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08002, Spain
Dates/times in Madrid time zone
Sunday 19 October 202517:00
Wednesday 22 October 202519:30
Monday 27 October 202519:30
Wednesday 29 October 202519:30
Friday 31 October 202519:30
Monday 03 November 202519:30
Performers
Gran Teatre del Liceu
Karen KamensekConductor
Phelim McDermottDirector
Tom PyeSet Designer
Kevin PollardCostume Designer
Bruno PoetLighting Designer
Orquesta Sinfónica del Gran Teatre del Liceu
Coro del Gran Teatre del Liceu
Sean GandiniChoreography
Pablo AssanteChoirmaster / chorus director
Anthony Roth CostanzoCountertenorAkhnaten
Rihab ChaiebMezzo-sopranoNefertiti
Katerina TretyakovaSopranoQueen Tye
Joan Martín-RoyoBaritoneHoremhab
José Manuel MonteroTenorHigh Priest of Amon
Toni MarsolBaritoneAye
Zachary JamesBaritoneScribe, Amenhotep III

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.

Reviews of Akhnaten directed by Phelim McDermott

© Paco Amate
© Paco Amate
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