Olivier Award winning Philip Glass opera to play Melbourne

Last night the prestigious Olivier Awards honoured the best on the West End from musicals to plays and opera to ballet.

Amongst the winners was Philip Glass and Robert Wilson’s epic Einstein on the Beach, which won the Olivier Award for Best New Opera Production and will play an exclusive season at Arts Centre Melbourne.

Melbourne audiences will have the chance to see the rarely performed work as part of a world tour. It is Glass’s first opera and credited as the work that first gained the composer international attention and acclaim.

“This award is proof of just what an exceptional experience Einstein on the Beach is. Despite being created nearly 40 years ago, it is powerful enough to win Best New Opera Production in the theatre capital of the world. It will be the theatre event of the year in Melbourne too so don’t miss it!” said Judith Isherwood, Chief Executive, Arts Centre Melbourne.

Running four-and-a-half hours with no intermission, the opera is Glass’s longest work and is as epic in length as it is in scale, with a touring company of 62 members.

But if four-and-a-half hours of opera without a toilet break or a glass of champagne sounds a bit daunting, the audience is allowed to leave and re-enter the auditorium as they wish.

Philip Glass is one of the most well-known and influential composers of the last fifty years worldwide. His work is known for its repetitive structures and minimalist influences and praised for its mesmerising quality.

Glass has written opera, musical theatre, symphonies, concertos, solo works, chamber music and film scores. Amongst his many achievements, three of his scores have been nominated for Academy Awards.

Robert Wilson is known as one of the world’s greatest avant-garde theatre artists. He is best known for his collaborations with Philip Glass and has directed over a hundred works.

Einstein on the Beach – An Opera in Four Acts will play at the State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne from Wednesday July 31 to Sunday 4 August.

For more information and tickets visit www.artscentremelbourne.com.au