Composer Philip Glass and performer-director Phelim McDermott Improbable have worked together on acclaimed opera productions in London, New York and beyond, and Tao of Glass is their most personal collaboration yet.
Inspired by a dream, this world premiere marries ten meditations on life, death and Taoist wisdom with ten brand new pieces of music from Glass, presented by McDermott with an ensemble of musicians and puppeteers. Every so often your eyes will fill with tears, for there is only so much that the human heart can hold within it.
Phelim McDermott [] When people try and be original they do the same things again and again. But if they just do the obvious thing, or they say the most obvious thing in a scene, they end up doing something original because they're true to themselves.
It's a podcast about creativity. Is it still possible to be original? In each episode a different artist who is developing new work for Manchester International Festival is offered a blank audio canvas. A chance to try something new with the podcast form. Isaiah Hull [] This episode is about what happens when you get to meet your hero and ask them anything you want.
I asked him whether or not he'd ever thought about quitting writing. His response was "No. He's launching a new work at MIF called Tao of Glass, with music by one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century: Philip Glass. Isaiah Hull [] Long before they worked together Phelim was a big fan of Philip Glass; so much that he once followed the composer around London's Covent Garden. Given the chance to interview Philip, what would Phelim ask?
