PAST. PRESENT. FUTURE.

One of the most popular contemporary American composers, Philip Glass was so much inspired by the approaching turn of the millennium that he wrote his Symphony No. 5 ‘Requiem, Bardo, Nirmanakaya’. Glass’ original plan was to showcase a wide range of the world’s great “wisdom” traditions in his work. The libretto, compiled with the help of a theologian and religious historian, begins before the world’s creation, passes through earthly life and paradise, and closes with a future dedication. We are looking at the moment of the millennium as a bridge between the past (represented by the ‘Requiem’ and embodying the first nine movements up to the moment of Death), the present (the ‘Bardo’ representing the ‘in between’) and culminating in ‘Nirmanakaya’ (rebirth as manifestation of enlightened activity). We have elected to present the original texts (…) in one language, English, to show the commonalities with which all these traditions resonate”.

Presented by: Hungarian Radio Art Groups