King Lear’s descent into madness is brilliantly captured in Philip Glass’ swirling, stifling score for string quartet. Originally commissioned for a 2019 Broadway production of Shakespeare’s late tragedy, the music was performed on stage alongside the actors, accompanying each dramatic turn. Glass focuses in on Lear’s frailty and mental weakness through music that creeps beneath the narrative surface, though he embraces Shakespeare’s storm—a metaphor for Lear’s breakdown—with music that whips up a pace over eight separate movements. And the Fool’s songs are deliciously bawdy, perfect for actor Ruth Wilson’s Cockney earthiness. The playing, featuring the same terrific musicians as in the production, is sheer perfection.
Featured On
- Feico Deutekom
- Trinity Wall Street, Julian Wachner, NOVUS NY, Heather Buck, Katherine Pracht, Vale Rideout, Stephen Salters, David Cushing, The Choir of Trinity Wall Street, Trinity Youth Chorus & Downtown Voices
- The city of Prague Philharmonic & Richard Hein
- Bruckner Orchester Linz, Dennis Russell Davies & Lauren Flanigan
- Jóhann Jóhannsson & Yair Elazar Glotman
- Arctic Philharmonic, Tim Weiss & Aleksander Waaktaar
- Christopher Keene, New York City Opera Chorus & New York City Opera Orchestra