compositions
Galileo Galilei
An opera in ten scenes for orchestra and soloists
2001

Info

93′

Music by Philip Glass.
Libretto by Mary Zimmerman with Philip Glass and Arnold Weinstein.
Published by Dunvagen Music Publishers.

Commission

The Goodman Theatre.

Instrumentation

2S, Mz, C-Ten, Ten, B-Bar, 3Bar

Premiere

June 24, 2002 at Albert Ivar Goodman Theatre in Chicago.

Synopsis

Drawing from letters of Galileo and his family, and various other documents, this opera retrospectively journeys through Galileo’s life. Opening with him as an old, blind man after the trial and Inquisition for his heresy, it explores his religiosity as well as his break with the church, and expands into the greater, oscillating relationship of science to both religion and art, reaching its end with Galileo – as an infant – watching an opera composed by his father.

Notes

Galileo Galilei is the 18th opera by Philip Glass. In ten scenes, it is adapted from the life of the Italian scientist Galileo Galilei (1564 – 1642) accused heretic by the Inquisition.

Scores

Galileo Galilei at Wise Music Classical