1000 Airplanes on the Roof

"1000 Airplanes on the Roof" is a chamber opera by Philip Glass which featured text by David Henry Hwang and projections by Jerome Sirlin. It is described by Glass as "a science fiction music drama".

The work was commissioned by the Donau Festival, Krems an der Donau, The American Music Theater Festival, Philadelphia, and West Berlin City Council in 1988. The opera premiered on July 15 1988, at the Vienna Airport in Hangar #3. The performance featured vocals by Linda Ronstadt and was conducted by Michael Riesman. The US premiere took place in September 1988 at The American Music Theater Festival, Philadelphia and went on to play in 40 US cities, including New York, Boston and Chicago.

ynopsis

The drama is set in New York City with a sole character, "M", who recalls encounters with extraterrestrial life forms, including their message:

"It is better to forget, it is pointless to remember. No one will believe you. You will have spoken a heresy. You will be outcast."

In the staged production, "M" performs in the midst of a three dimensional, holographic set. In the classic sense of the word melodrama, the role is performed by an actor in a spoken monologue over music. Although in the world premiere, "M" was played by a male actor, the character was played alternately by female actor Jodie Long and male actor Patrick O'Connell in many of the US performances.

Recording

*"Philip Glass: 1000 Airplanes on the Roof" (The Philip Glass Ensemble and Linda Ronstadt; Martin Goldray, Music Direction), 1992. Virgin 91065-2

Book

The libretto and images of the original set are published in:
*Philip Glass, David Henry Hwang and Jerome Sirlin (Introduction by John Howell), "1001 Airplanes on the Roof", Salt Lake City: Peregrine Smith Book, 1989 ISBN 0879053437

References

* [http://www.philipglass.com/html/compositions/1000-airplanes-on-the-roof.html "1000 Airplanes on the Roof"] at PhilipGlass.com. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
*Hedy Weiss [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3906693.html Philip Glass pilots 'Airplanes' into inner reaches of the mind] , (Review of the US premiere in Philadelphia), "Chicago Sun-Times", September 29, 1988. Retrieved via subscription 5 July 2008.
*John Rockwell, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE5DB1238F935A25751C1A96E948260 A Mixing of Media From Philip Glass] (Review of the New York premiere performance, "New York Times", December 16, 1988. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
*Kevin Kelly, [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8138758.html 'Airplanes' can't sustain its fancy flights] , (Review of the Boston premiere performance), "The Boston Globe", September 20, 1989. Retrieved via subscription 5 July 2008.
*James Schellenberg, [http://www.challengingdestiny.com/reviews/1000airplanes.htm Review of the book and CD, "1000 Airplanes on the Roof"] , "Challenging Destiny", March 2001. Retrieved 5 July 2008.