PHILIP GLASS – BOOK OF LONGING
A NEW MULTI-MEDIA CONCERT BASED ON THE
POETRY OF LEONARD COHEN
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2009, 8:00 PM
AT BASS CONCERT HALL
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Commissioned by the UT Performing Arts Center, Book of Longing is the long-awaited concert work by renowned composer Philip Glass, and based on the legendary poet and singer Leonard Cohen’s poetry collection of the same name. Glass sets Cohen’s words to a new score performed by an ensemble of singers and musicians, with Philip playing keyboard. Cohen’s recorded voice, paintings and drawings are prominently incorporated into this once-in-a-lifetime multimedia event!

Book of Longing is signature Cohen—at once meditative, playful, erotic, and provocative. The diverse collection of poems falls loosely into the categories of ballads, love and confessional poems, spiritual meditations, and short and comic pieces that Glass has called “limericks.” Glass’ composition is the culmination of years of mutual admiration between two of the most celebrated artists of our time.

Glass conceived the concert as a collection of poetic songs from each of these loose categories to run as a continuous evening rather than a traditional song cycle. The music is performed by an ensemble of eight musicians including electronic keyboards (one played by Glass himself), flute/bass clarinet, hand percussion, violin, cello double bass, and oboe/English horn that are visible on stage throughout the evening. The music is directed by Glass’ longtime musical director Michael Riesman.

Glass is perhaps best known for such operas as Akhnaten, Einstein on the Beach, Satyagraha, and The Voyage—all of which have been assimilated into the basic repertory in the world’s foremost theaters and opera houses—as well as numerous film scores (including those for The Hours, Cassandra’s Dream, Mindwalk, Kundun, Hamburger Hill, and Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time). He has also collaborated with a remarkably diverse roster of artists: Woody Allen, Allen Ginsberg, Doris Lessing, Yo-Yo Ma, Linda Ronstadt, Martin Scorsese, Ravi Shankar, and Paul Simon, to name but a few. Also the composer of eight symphonies, several string quartets, works for solo piano and organ, and concerti for piano, violin, timpani, saxophone quartet, and other instruments and combinations, Glass remains one of the most powerful, surprising, and influential composers of our time.

Widely regarded as one of the most influential songwriters of our time, Cohen is a Canadian born poet, novelist, and songwriter. In addition to his music, Cohen’s collections of poetry, including Let Us Compare Mythologies (1956), and Flowers for Hitler (1964), and his novels, including Beautiful Losers (1966), have brought him international recognition. His dual interests in music and literature have produced notable works, including the albums Various Positions (1984), I’m Your Man (1988), The Future (1992), Dear Heather (2004), and Blue Alert (2006). His songs, including “Suzanne,” Hallelujah,” and “Bird on a Wire,” have been covered by hundreds of artists including Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, and k.d. lang. In recognition of his remarkable work, Cohen was inducted into both the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. He also is a Companion of the Order of Canada, that nation’s highest civilian honor. In March 2008, Cohen was inducted into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

CALENDAR LISTING:

Saturday, February 21, 2009 – The University of Texas at Austin Performing Arts Center presents Philip Glass – Book of Longing at the Performing Art Center’s Bass Concert Hall (2400 E. Campus Dr.). A map of the campus: http://www.utpac.org/venues/bass_concert_hall ). Performance time is 8:00 p.m. Tickets ($26.00, $36.00, $49.50 / UT Faculty & Staff and student discounts available) are on sale now at the following authorized ticket outlets, which include the Bass Concert Hall Box Office, most H-E-B stores and all Texas Box Office outlets, online at www.utpac.org, or by calling (512) 477-6060 or (800) 982-BEVO.

PRESS CONTACT:
Gene Bartholomew
512.471.0632
gbartholomew@utpac.org