Philip Glass - Biography

Philip Glass
January 31, 1937

Biography: Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Philip Glass is a graduate of the University of Chicago and the Juilliard School. In the early 1960s, Glass spent two years of intensive study in Paris with Nadia Boulanger and while there, earned money by transcribing Ravi Shankar’s Indian music into Western notation. By 1974, Glass had a number of innovative projects, creating a large collection of new music for The Philip Glass Ensemble, and for the Mabou Mines Theater Company. This period culminated in Music in Twelve Parts, and the landmark opera, Einstein on the Beach for which he collaborated with Robert Wilson. Since Einstein, Glass has expanded his repertoire to include music for opera, dance, theater, chamber ensemble, orchestra, and film. His scores have received Academy Award nominations (Kundun, The Hours, Notes on a Scandal) and a Golden Globe (The Truman Show). Glass has received an Oscar nomination for his Notes score. Symphony No. 7 and Symphony No. 8Glass’ latest symphoniesalong with Waiting for the Barbarians, an opera based on the book by J.M. Coetzee, premiered in 2005. This past year of 2007, several new works were unveiled, including Book of Longing (June, Luminato Festival) and an opera about the end of the Civil War entitled Appomattox (October, San Francisco Opera). The English National Opera, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Opera, recently performed Glass’ Satyagraha in London. New York’s Metropolitan Opera presents the work in April 2008. Glass continues to tour with The Philip Glass Ensemble and is embarking on a short tour performing his solo piano works.

Filmography

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