by Andrew Frisicano

Master storyteller Ira Glass took to the stage with illustrious composer Philip Glass at St. Ann's Warehouse on Tuesday [April 18th] for an intimate evening of music and conversation. In a time when little is for certain at most not-for-profit institutions, the success of the "Glass on Glass" benefit has ensured the theater's next season.

Ira Glass, host and producer of public radio show "This American Life," asked questions of Philip Glass, who alternately riffed on a gleaming Yamaha and answered Ira's questions about the method and processes that lead to his great musical successes.

To hear him explain it, though, Philip's work is not particularly innovative, nor necessarily 'new.' His compositions flow from natural, simple chord experimentation, he said, as he challenges himself to answer questions such as 'How do you achieve coherency without formality?' or 'How do you make it sound as if you have three hands?'

Ira asked if Philip might play one of his shorter pieces -- a prelude, for example. After illustrating the chord structure he said lightly, "I assure you, there is nothing else in the piece. But it'll take me six minutes to convince you of that." [Brooklyn Eagle]

Philip Glass will be speaking again, this Saturday, May 9th at Cooper Union. The event is titled "Art, Creativity and Tibetan Buddhism," and Glass will be joined by Gelek Rimpoche, Francesco Clemente, and Michael Imperioli. It's a benefit for Jewel Heart, a non-profit that "supports the preservation of Tibetan culture and Tibetan Buddhism." Tickets are on sale now.

On top of his speaking events, there are also a number of upcoming chances to catch Philip Glass' music. One of the best is Signal's performance of Glass' Symphony No. 3 and Suite from The Hours, with pianist Michael Riesman and conductor Brad Lubman, at Le Poisson Rouge on Sunday, May 17th. Tickets are still on sale.

New work by Glass will be showcased at the opening celebration/benefit for the 2009 World Science Festival at Alice Tully Hall on Wednesday, June 10th.

The evening's festivities will include the New York premiere of "LIFE: A Journey Through Time"--a moving and majestic concert piece, specially adapted for the World Science Festival, setting the lyrical imagery of National Geographic photographer Frans Lanting to an original score by the renowned composer Philip Glass, and performed by the Orchestra of St. Luke's under the baton of acclaimed conductor Marin Alsop.

Tickets to that run between $100 and $1,000.

At the same venue, on Saturday, July 25th, pianists Dennis Russell Davies and Maki Namekawa will perform the US and North American premiere of Glass' Four Movements for Two Pianos, as part of this year's Lincoln Center Festival. Also on the program for that is "the New York premiere of Chen Yi's China West Suite, as well as four hand piano versions of contemporary works by Stravinsky and Steve Reich." Tickets are on sale.

Finally, if "free" is more your price range, the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park is presenting The Bacchae by Euripides, featuring a score by Philip Glass, from August 11th - 30th.

This visionary interpretation, featuring a lush choral score by Philip Glass, re-imagines the classic story about what happens when a government attempts to outlaw desire.

Reserved seats are available for those who'd like to become "summer supporters" of the free performances. Info on how to get free tickets below. The shows will be held at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.

More information on Shakespeare in the park and the Jewel Heart benefit, plus videos of Glass' Symphony No.3 and The Hours and a clips of the other Glass on The Colbert Report, below...

Continue reading "Philip Glass spoke w/ Ira Glass + Upcoming Glass benefits, talks & performances (Shakespeare in the Park included)"

A pipe bomb exploded on the streets of NYC last night. Nobody was hurt. That has nothing to do with music, but with all the press focusing on the fact that the bomb went off near Studio Dante - a performance space owned by Sopranos actor Michael Imperioli, I thought I would take this opportunity to remind people that Christopher also plays in a band callled La Dolce Vita who are playing Mercury Lounge on September 25th. Fellow NYC bands Death of Fashion and TV/TV are also on that bill, which some might say is appropriate since Michael played a character on *TV* that often dealt with *death*.

In related news, Little Steven Van Zandt will be hitting some NYC stages soon himself.