Met Opera: Akhnaten
Anthony Roth Costanzo in the title role of "Akhnaten" | Photo: Paola Kudacki/Met Opera
Akhnaten
by Philip Glass
A Philip Glass masterpiece. Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo is the title pharaoh, the revolutionary ruler who transformed ancient Egypt, with the striking mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges in her Met debut as his wife, Nefertiti.
Akhnaten is set during the 17-year reign of Akhnaten, around 1350 B.C.E. The location moves between the ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes and Akhenaten’s new capital city at Akhetaten, as well as the ruins of the subsequently destroyed Akhetaten.
Conductor: Karen Kamensek
Cast:
AKHNATEN: Anthony Roth Costanzo
NEFERTITI: J'Nai Bridges
QUEEN TYE: Dísella Lárusdóttir
HIGH PRIEST OF AMON: Aaron Blake
HOREMHAB: Will Liverman
AYE: Richard Bernstein
AMENHOTEP III: Zachary James
Start time: 10:00am on Capital Public Radio .
Approximate running time 3 hrs 30 min
Click in the "LINKS" area for more information about Akhnaten including a link to a fascinating and enlightening interview with star Anthony Ross Costanzo on NPR's "Fresh Air."