CENTRAL ENGLAND: Mike Wheeler's concert reviews from Nottingham and Derbyshire feature high profile artists on the UK circuit - often quite early on their tours.
American composer and pianist Philip Glass was born in Baltimore, Maryland on 31 January 1937 into a family of Lithuanian Jewish emigrants. His father owned a record store and Philip Glass was exposed to modern music and sounds from an early age. As a child he studied flute. He then took mathematics and philosophy at Chicago University. He visited Paris and was impressed by Jean Cocteau's films and by the bohemian life there. He studied keyboard and composition at Juilliard with fellow students Steve Reich and Peter Schickele. He won a 1959 BMI Student Composer Award, and studied with Darius Milhaud at Aspen in 1960.
On a Fulbright Scholarship, he studied in Paris with Nadia Boulanger (1964-66) and ackowledges that this made a profound influence on his work.
Moving away from the modernist music of Boulez and Stockhausen, he developed his own 'music with repetitive structures' which others have described as minimalism, and founded the Philip Glass Ensemble, which he performs with on keyboards. He has become one of the main influencers of late twentieth century music.
Spotlight. Striking, Varied, Inventive and Unusual - Keith Bramich takes a trip down the Amazonian rivers of Brazil, courtesy of Philip Glass, Constance Volk and Third Coast Percussion. '... all highly approachable ...'
Classical music news. Obituary - Peter Schickele (1935-2024)
CD Spotlight. A Common Thread - Music by Kjetil Bjerkestrand and Philip Glass, heard by Gerald Fenech. '... a must for contemporary music lovers ...'
Ensemble. Unstoppable Panache - Mike Wheeler listens to Amy Dickson and Martin Cousin
Ensemble. Songs of the Distance - Giuseppe Pennisi describes how American music is back, alive and well at the Spoleto Festival
Ensemble. Earth and the Future of Mankind - Giuseppe Pennisi experiences 'Koyaanisqatsi', by Philip Glass, in Rome
Ensemble. Siena Wins a Heroic Bet - Giuseppe Pennisi attends the opening performance of the completely re-designed Chigiana International Festival and Summer Academy
CD Spotlight. Baroque Minimalism and 21st Century Minds - Ona Jarmalavičiūtė listens to music for violin by Philip Glass. 'The magic of this iconic figure in American music is still aweing listeners.'
Ensemble. Special Moments - Adam J Sacks provides a Hong Kong snapshot on the classical music world
Ensemble. Exemplary Clarity - Haydn, Glass and Beethoven from the Marmen Quartet, heard by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Gábor Káli - Giuseppe Pennisi reports on the Salzburg Festival Young Conductors Award
Ensemble. The Romantic Connection - Kodály, Glass and Bruckner, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. Dancing Vigour - Percussionists Owen Gunnell and Oliver Cox, appreciated by Mike Wheeler
Somewhat Congested - Jonathan Scott plays the organ of Derby Cathedral, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Echo of Globalization - France at the Festival of Nations, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. A Great Success - Eleonora Abbagnato's 'Four Great Choreographers' at Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, appreciated by Giuseppe Pennisi
CD Spotlight. Out of the Ordinary - Eighth Blackbird's 'Meanwhile', heard by the late Howard Smith. '... an ear-catching feather in Cedille's musical cap.'
Ensemble. Woman for all Seasons - Gerald Fenech returns to Festival Maribor in Slovenia
CD Spotlight. Bewildering Delight - Valentina Lisitsa plays Philip Glass, impressing Gerald Fenech. 'A must for all Glass enthusiasts ...'
Ensemble. Geological Imagery - Sinfonia Viva's schools residency project moves Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. Unquestionably Recommended - Jennifer Koh and Jamie Laredo, heard by Howard Smith. 'This new performance ... undoubtedly earns a place ...'
CD Spotlight. A Curate's Egg - Satie, Glass, Feldman and Schubert, heard by Howard Smith. '... amiable verve ...'
Ensemble. Most Interesting - 'Satyagraha' by Philip Glass, reviewed by Maria Nockin
CD Spotlight. Subtle and Organic - Music by John Luther Adams, recommended by Malcolm Tattersall. '... vast silent landscapes ...'
CD Spotlight. Musical Finesse - Songs by Gregg Kallor, recommended by Howard Smith. 'Go to the top of the class.'
Ensemble. A New Dimension - Giuseppe Pennisi reports that chamber opera is alive and well
Ensemble. Invigorating Performance - Sinfonia Viva plays Judith Weir, heard by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Passionately Breathtaking - The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
CD Spotlight. Intimate Mode - Quartets by Evans, Glass, Antheil and Herrmann, recommended by Howard Smith. '... wholly engaging ...'
Grand Scale - Mike Wheeler attends summer organ recitals by Tom Corfield and Johan Hermans
Ensemble. Fascinating Programming - A report from the Sarasota Music Festival 2007, by Lawrence Budmen
Record Box. A Fascinating Programme - Joseph Gramley plays music for percussion, reviewed by Patric Standford
Ensemble. Sunshine and Stars - The Australian Festival of Chamber Music 2006 continues, and Malcolm Tattersall sends a second report
Ensemble. Sanity to insanity - Lyric Opera Cleveland's 'The Fall of the House of Usher', reviewed by Kelly Ferjutz
Inner sounds - Philip Glass played in Calgary, and Gordon Rumson was in the audience
Fool's gold - An alternate meaning to the music of Philip Glass, from Gordon Rumson