The Metropolitan Opera: Akhnaten
Synopsis
Philip Glass’ opera “Akhnaten”, premiered in Stuttgart in 1984, forms the third part of the portrait opera trilogy about personalities who have influenced the course of human history. The conclusion of the trilogy deals with the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten, who attempted to establish a kind of monotheistic cult around the god Aton during his reign in the 14th century BC, but failed due to the resistance of the priesthood. The production presented here was undoubtedly one of the very great successes of the 2019/20 season at New York’s Metropolitan Opera, due not only to the outstanding cast of singers (led by countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo) but also to Phelim McDermott’s imaginative staging, which captivates with sometimes breathtaking imagery.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
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How an opera gets made
Type: Behind the Scenes • Published 2019-12-04
Top Cast
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Anthony Roth Costanzo
Akhnaten
J’Nai Bridges
Nefertiti
Dísella Lárusdóttir
Queen Tye
Zachary James
Amenhotep III / A professor
Richard Berstein
Aye
Will Liverman
General Horemhab
Aaron Blake
High Priest of Amon
Lindsay Ohse
Bekhetaten
Karen Chia-ling Ho
Meretaten
Chrystal E. Williams
Maketaten
Annie Rosen
Ankhesenpaaten
Olivia Vote
Neferneferuaten
Suzanne Hendrix
Sotopenre
Christian J. Conner
Young Tutankhamun
Joyce DiDonato
Self - Host
Karen Kamensek
Self - Conductor
MET Orchestra
Release History & Theatrical Window
November 23, 2019
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Phelim McDermott, Gary Halvorson
- Screenplay & Story
- Philip Glass, Shalom Goldman
- Original Score
- Philip Glass
- Original Title
- The Metropolitan Opera: Akhnaten
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, Hebrew
- Runtime
- 2h 52m
- Production Studios
- The Metropolitan Opera
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Phelim McDermott, Gary Halvorson
Philip Glass, Shalom Goldman
Philip Glass
Louisa Briccetti, Victoria Warivonchik, Peter Gelb
Department Leadership Roster
Philip Glass
Writer
Phelim McDermott
Production Design
Phelim McDermott
Director
Louisa Briccetti
Producer
Victoria Warivonchik
Producer
Gary Halvorson
Director
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Metropolitan Opera: Akhnaten.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Metropolitan Opera: Akhnaten
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Metropolitan Opera: Akhnaten about?
Philip Glass’ opera “Akhnaten”, premiered in Stuttgart in 1984, forms the third part of the portrait opera trilogy about personalities who have influenced the course of human history. The conclusion of the trilogy deals with the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten, who attempted to establish a kind of monotheistic cult around the god Aton during his reign in the 14th century BC, but failed due to the resistance of the priesthood. The production presented here was undoubtedly one of the very great successes of the 2019/20 season at New York’s Metropolitan Opera, due not only to the outstanding cast of singers (led by countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo) but also to Phelim McDermott’s imaginative staging, which captivates with sometimes breathtaking imagery.
Who directed The Metropolitan Opera: Akhnaten?
The Metropolitan Opera: Akhnaten was directed by Phelim McDermott, Gary Halvorson.
Who stars in The Metropolitan Opera: Akhnaten?
The principal cast of The Metropolitan Opera: Akhnaten includes Anthony Roth Costanzo, J’Nai Bridges, Dísella Lárusdóttir, Zachary James, Richard Berstein.
When was The Metropolitan Opera: Akhnaten released and how long is it?
The Metropolitan Opera: Akhnaten was released in 2019 with a total runtime of 2h 52m.
Who composed the musical score for The Metropolitan Opera: Akhnaten?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Metropolitan Opera: Akhnaten was composed by Philip Glass.