Even though he wasn’t physically there, Philip Glass’s presence was felt at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on Friday night. Ten pianists shared Glass’s most intimate pieces of work.
One at a time, each performer would enter the stage, sit down and begin playing, filling the auditorium with the etude’s poignancy. The lights would change to match each etude’s essence, drawing a deeper connection between the etudes and the audience.
Renowned composer and pianist Glass worked closely with Pomegranate Arts for more than 30 years on his live tour work. The 20 etudes are now Glass’s most performed and recorded pieces.
Friday’s performers, including Vicky Chow, Janice Carissa, Inon Barnatan, Joy Yang, Christian Sands, Lisa Kaplan, Lara Downes, Aaron Diehl, Lisa Moore and Timo Andres, each performed two pieces.
According to the KCPA program, the performers were chosen for their proficient technical skills, variety in musical backgrounds and in-depth interpretive skills.
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Carlos Miranda, a sophomore in DES, said he was originally there for an assignment, but he enjoys events like this.
“I think music has a huge impact on a lot of people with the emotions that it could cause in yourself and everybody else,” Miranda said.
During the concert, guests swayed their heads to the music and gave the performers a standing ovation at the end of the performance. One guest, Yelda Mullen, said the etudes brought her on a journey.
“It was really moving, taking you to those highs and lows in the way that I hope it would have,” Mullen said.
Performers used their whole bodies to play, plucking every note with intent and precision. One performer, Sands, even added a bit of his own personality to his performance by slightly improvising throughout.
Mullen said the etudes evoked a sense of serenity within her, contrasting the tense current political climate outside with the peacefulness inside the theater.
“It was calming in a time when we are experiencing a lot of turmoil,” Mullen said. “I think the community needed a little bit of something that holds all those inner things because of everything happening outside right now.”
Mullen explained that she came to the performance because she had heard Glass’s other work and wanted to hear more.
People may have heard of Glass without even realizing it, as he has composed for numerous films.
Glass’s music can be heard in “The Truman Show,” “Candyman” and “The Hours.”
“I’ve watched ‘The Hours’ movie one too many times,” Mullen said. “I was curious. I haven’t listened to his etudes before, so I was curious, ‘What would that be?’”
Others were more familiar with Glass’s etudes.
Bruce Adams, an audience member, said that he’s listened to the etudes before, but hearing them live was a different experience.
“There were two etudes that I thought had a sort of gospel or spiritual underpinning to them that I had never heard before in his music,” Bruce Adams said. “That was a bit of a revelation for me.”
Bruce Adams was referring to etudes nine and 10, performed by Sands, a crowd favorite performer.
Annie Adams was also familiar with Glass’s work, including but not limited to the etudes.
“I’m a big fan of Philip Glass, and I was incredibly excited to see it (played) live,” Annie Adams said. “I never thought I’d get the chance to see that in my lifetime.”
This concert showcases not only Glass’s 20 iconic etudes but also celebrates the release of Glass’s special edition box set: Philip Glass: The Complete Etudes (Artisan). The new collection features various artists, inspired by Glass’s etudes, who share their creative process in making additional compositions.
Glass continues to share his personal compositions with the world, believing it may be his greatest accomplishment.
“If I’m to be remembered for anything, it will probably be for the piano music, because people can play it,” Glass said, according to the LA Philharmonic.
