AKHNATEN
OVERVIEW AND FACTS
Akhnaten ascends to the Egyptian throne along with his bride, Nefertiti. He has a vision for his
people—a vision that abandons the worship of many gods for just one: the Sun God, who reigns
supreme. This riveting story follows Akhnaten’s attempt to alter the course of history with a single
revolutionary idea that ultimately leads to his violent overthrow.
A powerful and mesmerizing opera, filled with driving rhythms and exquisite choral harmonies,
comes to Los Angeles in an all-new production by renowned director Phelim McDermott, led by the
Matthew Aucoin, LA Opera’s new Artist in Residence.
Company premiere — new co-production with English National Opera.
Music: Philip Glass
Libretto: Philip Glass in association with Shalom Goldman, Robert Israel and Richard Riddel. Vocal
text drawn from original sources by Shalom Goldman.
World premiere: March 24, 1984, Stuttgart State Opera, Stuttgart, Germany
Cast:
Akhnaten: Anthony Roth Costanzo*
Queen Tye: Stacey Tappan
Nefertiti: J’nai Bridges*
Creative team:
Conductor: Matthew Aucoin*
Scenery Design: Tom Pye*
Lighting Design: Bruno Poet
Chorus Director: Grant Gershon
Director: Phelim McDermott*
Costume Design: Kevin Pollard*
Choreography: Sean Gandini*
* LA Opera debut
Performance dates and times:
Saturday, November 5, 2016, at 7:30pm
Sunday, November 13, 2016, at 2pm
Saturday, November 19, 2016, at 7:30pm
Thursday, November 10, 2016, at 7:30pm
Thursday, November 17, 2016, at 7:30pm
Sunday, November 27, 2016, at 2:00pm
Performed in English, Ancient Egyptian, Akkadian and Biblical Hebrew with English supertitles.
Performances take place at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
(135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90012).
Prices start at: $18
All programs, artists and dates are subject to change.
LAOpera.org/Akhnaten