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12.19.08

For immediate release: December 19, 2008

Contacts: Emory College Center for Creativity & Arts, Sally Corbett, sacorbe@emory.edu, 404-727-6678 and Jessica Moore, jkmoore@emory.edu, 404-727-1687; The Atlanta Opera, Cristina Vásconez Herrera, cvherrera@atlantaopera.org, 404-881-9194; Michael C. Carlos Museum, Priyanka Sinha, psinha4@emory.edu, 404-727-9291

KING TUTANKHAMUN’S REVOLUTIONARY FATHER IS SUBJECT OF BOLD EMORY AND ATLANTA OPERA PRESENTATIONS  

World-renowned Composer Philip Glass to Present at Three Public Events
In Conjunction with “Akhnaten” Atlanta Premiere  

Emory University and The Atlanta Opera bring Philip Glass’ visionary and exotic opera, “Akhnaten” to Emory’s Schwartz Center in January 2009. Fewer than twenty productions of this rare work, which premiered in 1984, have been presented worldwide. The opera follows the rise and fall of the man many scholars believe to be King Tutankhamun’s father, the ancient pharaoh Akhnaten (Amenhotep IV). The opera is presented as part of Emory’s ongoing Flora Glenn Candler Concert Series. Although the Jan. 23 (8 p.m.) and Jan. 25 (5 p.m.) performances of “Akhnaten” are sold out, those seeking tickets may be placed on a waiting list and will have opportunities to attend presentations by Philip Glass and other scholars and artists, including discussions of the opera, music for film, creativity and spirituality. “Akhnaten” was planned as part of the celebration of two exhibitions presented by Emory’s Michael C. Carlos Museum through May 25, 2009, “Wonderful Things: The Harry Burton Photographs and the Discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun” (at the Carlos Museum) and “Tutankhamun: The Golden King & the Great Pharaohs” (at the B. Jones Atlanta Civic Center). For more information on the free panels, lectures, screenings, and master classes planned in conjunction with “Akhnaten” or to be added to the waiting list for “Akhnaten” tickets, the public may call 404-727-5050 or email boxoffice@emory.edu.

Celebrating its 25 th anniversary, “Akhnaten” remains a singular and daring production sung in four languages: ancient Hebrew, Akkadian (from Babylonia), English and ancient Egyptian (derived from hieroglyphs). To create the libretto, Emory Professor of Hebrew and Middle Eastern Studies Shalom Goldman gathered texts from the monuments of Akhnaten’s “Lost City” Akhetaten and from poems buried with royal mummies. Adding to the allure of the opera are its unusual castings of voice, including a countertenor in the title role. The effect underscores how strange and shocking the pharaoh was to the Egypt of his time during his 17-year rule. Akhnaten was born in 1336 BC. The religious revolutionary ruled during the 18th dynasty of Egypt and instituted the worship of one god, the Aten. His battles with the priesthood and his destruction of their temples outraged the populace and cost him his reign—perhaps even his life. His ties with other famous figures of Egyptian history add the flair of celebrity to this opera: he was married to Queen Nefertiti and he and his minor queen Kiya are believed by many scholars to be King Tut’s parents. After Akhnaten’s death and the restoration of polytheism in Egypt, subsequent rulers sought to excise his name from history.

Renowned American composer Philip Glass will participate in three public events at Emory: a public “Creativity Conversation,” a public pre-opera conversation and a free screening of Martin Scorsese’s “Kundun,” which he will introduce. Over a career spanning four decades, Glass has composed symphonies, operas, orchestral works and music for film including the scores for “Kundun” and “The Hours”—both of which earned him Academy Award nominations for Best Original Score. His collaborations with other artists include a wide range of musicians and writers including Allen Ginsberg, Ravi Shankar, Natalie Merchant, Paul Simon, Woody Allen and Leonard Cohen.  

Philip Glass’ Emory visit is made possible by co-sponsorship from the Michael C. Carlos Museum, the Emory Coca-Cola Artists-in-Residence Program, the Emory University Creativity & Arts Initiative, the Emory College Center for Creativity & Arts, an anonymous friend of the arts at Emory , and the Flora Glenn Candler Concert Series.

Public event listings for “Akhnaten” and Philip Glass events at Emory follow. For information about additional community outreach events for high school and events for Emory students that are not listed below, including an “Akhnaten” theater design class, rehearsals and other special events, the public may call 404-727-5050.

Colloquium on Philip Glass’ “Akhnaten” with Richard Kagey , Thurs., Jan. 22, 2009, 2:30-3:50 p.m., free, Emerson Concert Hall, Schwartz Center, 1700 N. Decatur Rd., Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, 404-727-5050
The Atlanta Opera’s Richard Kagey, stage director for “Akhnaten,” will talk about the history and humanism of Akhnaten.

“Historical and Imagined Akhnaten,” Panel Discussion with Melinda Hartwig, Shalom Goldman, and Richard Kagey
Thursday, January 22, 2009, 7 p.m., free, Reception Hall, Michael C. Carlos Museum, 571 Kilgo Cir., Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322
Panelists will discuss the historical figure Akhnaten, the Akhnaten of the imagination in Glass’ opera, and what to expect from the “Akhnaten” production. The panelists are Dr. Melinda K. Hartwig, Associate Professor, Ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern Art and Archeology, Department of Art History, School of Art & Design, Georgia State University; Shalom Goldman, Professor of Hebrew and Middle Eastern Studies, Emory University; and Richard Kagey, stage director of The Atlanta Opera’s performance of Philip Glass’ “Akhnaten.”

Philip Glass’ “Akhnaten”Performed byTheAtlanta Opera
Arthur Fagen, conductor; Richard Kagey, director; John Gaston (Akhnaten), Mary Ann McCormick (Nefertiti), Kiera Duffy (Queen Tye), Brent Davis (Horemhab)
Fri., Jan. 23, 2009, 8 p.m. and Sun., Jan. 25 at 5 p.m.,ticketed (Sold out. Call 404-727-5050 to be placed on the wait list for tickets.), Emerson Concert Hall, Schwartz Center, 1700 N. Decatur Rd., Emory University, Atlanta 30322. This concert-staged performance is the Atlanta premiere of Glass’ mesmerizing historical drama about the Egyptian pharaoh. Adding to this collaboration will be ten talented student actors with Theater Emory who will be supernumeraries for these special performances. “Akhnaten” is presented as part of Emory’s Flora Glenn Candler Concert Series.

Pre-Opera Talk with Carter Josephfor Jan. 23 “Akhnaten” Performance Ticketholders
Fri., Jan. 23, 2009, 7-7:30 p.m., talk for “Akhnaten” Jan. 23 performance ticketholders only, Emerson Concert Hall, Schwartz Center, 1700 N. Decatur Rd., Emory University, Atlanta 30322. This pre-opera talk is by Atlanta Opera Honorary Board Member Carter Joseph. F or the past two years Joseph has taught a popular Evening at Emory class on Atlanta Opera productions. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from the University of GA and is a life-long opera fan. He is a wine and spirits consultant and has been an avid supporter of The Atlanta Opera since its inception. He co-founded and has taught since 1985, Opera 101, an amusing and enlightening audio-visual preview of each major work produced by The Atlanta Opera.

Public Pre-Opera Conversation with Composer Philip Glass and Shalom Goldman
Sun., Jan. 25, 2009, 3:30-4:30 p.m., free and open to the public (not ticketed), Glenn Memorial Auditorium, Emory University, Atlanta, 30322. Joining in conversation with composer Philip Glass is Emory Professor of Hebrew and Middle Eastern Studies Shalom Goldman, who served as an Egyptological advisor to Glass and wrote part of the opera’s libretto using ancient Egyptian sources.

Creativity Conversation: Philip Glass Discusses Creativity & Collaboration
Mon., Jan. 26, 2009, 4 p.m., free, Michael C. Carlos Museum, Reception Hall, Emory University, 571 Kilgo Cir., Atlanta, GA, 30322. Composer Philip Glass and Emory University Vice President and Secretary Rosemary Magee will discuss collaboration with a focus on Glass’ work with artists in a variety of disciplines, including Robert Wilson, Lucinda Childs, Twyla Tharp and Godfrey Reggio, and the ways these collaborations have fed Glass’ own creativity.

Screening of Martin Scorsese’s “Kundun” (1997, 134 minutes, color,35mm) with Introduction by Philip Glass
NOTE: The new start time for this event is 6:30 p.m.
Mon., Jan. 26, 2009, 6:30 p.m. (6:30-7:15 p.m. introduction; 7:15 p.m. screening), free,
White Hall 208, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, www.filmstudies.emory.edu.
The Department of Film Studies at Emory presents a screening of “Kundun” with a pre-show discussion led by Philip Glass, who composed the film’s Academy Award-winning score. Glass’ introduction will reveal the ways traditional Tibetan musical forms and Buddhism influenced his score and discuss his collaboration with Martin Scorsese. This moving film tells the life story of Tibet’s 14 th and current Dalai Lama, who is known to his people as Kundun, or “The Presence.” The film chronicles the tragic events that led up to his escape to India, followed by the complete occupation of Tibet in 1959. The film has won numerous awards, especially in the areas of cinematography (Roger Deakins) and music (Philip Glass). “Kundun” has become a classic in the area of Tibet-related films, and is a fitting addition to the Philip Glass visit, especially in light of Glass’ interest in Buddhism, Emory’s Tibetan Studies Program and the 2007 appointment of the Dalai Lama as Presidential Distinguished Professor at Emory. "For years, I had hoped to work with Glass, and in ‘Kundun’ we found the ideal subject for a special collaboration. His Buddhist faith and deep understanding of Tibetan culture combine with the subtlety of his composition to play an essential role in our movie on the life of the Dalai Lama. Philip Glass is an artist of tremendous sensitivity whose music works from the inside of the film, from its heart, to produce a powerful emotional intensity which remains for days in the listener's head. The beauty, magic, grandeur and spirituality of the score allow us to feel the pulse of the story as it unfolds. For me, the images in the film no longer stand on their own without Philip Glass' music," said Martin Scorsese.

Related Exhibitions

“Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs,”  Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center, Atlanta, GA, now through May 25, 2009, ticketed (purchase online at www.kingtut.org). The Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University presents this exhibition at the B. Jones Civic Center. The exhibition spans the greatest eras of Egyptian History--from the Old Kingdom to the Late Period--between 2600-660 BC. It features more than 130 extraordinary objects including many from the reign of Tutankhamun, as well as treasures from the most significant pharaohs who ruled the Nile throughout 2,000 years of history. This exhibition places Tutankhamun in the context of ancient Egyptian culture and focuses on the splendor of the Egyptian pharaohs, the significance of kingship to the ancient Egyptian people and the intricate and symbolic ceremonies related to life and death in the palace. Viewers will get a sense of how life and art evolved over many generations in ancient Egypt. The exhibition includes extraordinary finds from the Tutankhamun’s tomb and others in the Valley of the Kings as well as finds from temples, palaces and other ancient Egyptian sites ranging in size from tiny intricately carved jewels to the colossal 10-foot tall statue of King Tutankhamun. The exhibition is organized by National Geographic, Arts and Exhibitions International and AEG Exhibitions, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities. Northern Trust is the presenting sponsor of the tour and American Airlines is the official airline. 

“Wonderful Things: The Harry Burton Photographs and the Discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun,” Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University, Atlanta 30322, now through May 25, 2009, admission by $7 suggested donation, www.carlos.emory.edu. T he tomb of Tutankhamun is one of the most famous archaeological finds of all time.  When discovered in 1922, the tomb was filled with spectacular artifacts and every step of the archaeologists’ painstakingly detailed work in and around the tomb was documented by photographer Harry Burton (1879-1940). The tomb’s excavation was one of the first of its scale to be so thoroughly recorded. Images are presented as important documents of the excavation and as works of artistic merit with an important place in the history of photography.

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EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: Photographs of Shalom Goldman, Philip Glass, sculpture of Akhnaten, Schwartz Center and Emerson Concert Hall are available upon request.

EMORY UNIVERSITY CREATIVITY & ARTS
Launched in fall 2008, the Emory College Center for Creativity & Arts (CCA) celebrates, nurtures, and inspires the act of making and studying art, and the intellectual creativity everywhere evident in a vibrant university community. CCA seeks to make creativity, and the arts, central to Emory as a liberal arts institution, and to what it most values. This department and campus arts consortium encourages artistic and scholarly inquiry; collaboration across disciplines; support and resources for Emory artists and scholars; passion for artistic excellence that allows for risk taking, originality, vision and revision. The CCA works closely with the Emory University Creativity & Arts Strategic Initiative on interdisciplinary collaborations, audience development activities, grantmaking and special programs exploring creativity.

The Emory University Creativity & Arts Initiative is part of the University-wide Strategic Plan and seeks to strengthen creative approaches to research and learning in the arts, sciences and humanities through cross-discipline collaboration and a fully-integrated arts curriculum. “A research institution does not just create new knowledge but also creates new ways of knowing. Every discipline requires creativity, risk-taking, and the ability to see beyond known boundaries. The arts, in particular, foster creativity in all disciplines and encourage ways of knowing that complement skills in other fields of study,” says Initiative Director Rosemary Magee, Emory University Vice President and Secretary. For more information on the Center an Initiative, please go online to www.creativity.emory.edu.

THE ATLANTA OPERA
Founded in 1979, The Atlanta Opera has entertained more than 852,000 patrons during more than 272 performances and 81 productions. Led by Zurich General Director Dennis Hanthorn, The Atlanta Opera strives to expand the experience of its patrons with memorable and exciting performances reflecting the highest musical and theatrical standards, while supporting community and educational programs.  The company also works to attract the finest international, national, and regional singers, conductors, stage directors and designers. The Atlanta Opera typically presents four productions each season at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre as well as “Student Shorts,” abridged matinee performances of the mainstage productions for middle and high school students. The Atlanta Opera Studio tours a 50-minute interactive opera performance each spring to elementary schools across the state of Georgia. For more information about The Atlanta Opera, visit www.AtlantaOpera.org or call 404-881-8801.

MICHAEL C. CARLOS MUSEUM OF EMORY UNIVERSITY
Michael C. Carlos Museum brings to the Atlanta community priceless treasures mapping an extraordinary breadth of ancient cultures, customs, and legacies. Some 16,000 artifacts from ancient Egypt, the Near East, Greece, Rome, the Americas, Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa, as well as works on paper from the Renaissance to the present day, provide visitors with a glimpse into the art and history of world cultures. From locally organized exhibitions to those from nationally and internationally celebrated institutions, including the Louvre, British Museum, and Israel Museum, the Carlos Museum serves as the South's premier museum of ancient art exhibitions and collections. The museum’s educational programming--with an active schedule of lectures, symposia, workshops, performances, and summer camps--benefits all who interact with the museum community. Thousands of Georgia's children explore the museum galleries each year on school tours, while many more benefit from the museum's efforts to bring art, history, and archaeology to the classroom through popular outreach programs. For more information, visit www.carlos.emory.edu.

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