Meditations on life, death and Taoist wisdom: Phelim McDermott & Philip Glass’s Tao of Glass, @sohoplace theatre

Phelim McDermott & Philip Glass: Tao of Glass – @sohoplace theatre

Director Phelim McDermott and composer Philip Glass have collaborated at ENO and the Met on Glass’s operas Satygraha [see Tony’s review of the 2018 revival at ENO] and Akhnaten, but now they are presenting something on a rather smaller scale. Tao of Glass opens at @sohoplace theatre on 30 July and runs until 12 September, presented by Factory International, Improbable and Nica Burns.

It is a smaller, more personal collaboration featuring ten pieces by Glass presented with McDermott’s expansively philosophical storytelling on the vulnerable, improvisatory processes behind these large-scale operas, with an ensemble of musicians and puppeteers to support these pieces. It’s a hybrid theatrical experience: part-concert and part-memoir, marrying ten meditations on life, death and Taoist wisdom. 

Philip Glass commented: “The show reminds us not to forget the wonder in the world, especially when the world makes us want to armour ourselves.“

Tao of Glass was first presented in 2019 at Manchester International Festival. The show depends on silence, closeness and Glass’ delicate music, and so the acoustically sensitive space of @sohoplace will hold the audience more closely than ever before. 

Full details from @sohoplace website.