Overview
Synopsis
Philip Glass’s Galileo Galilei tells the story of the great astronomer and scientist in reverse chronological order, beginning with him as an old man under house arrest, blind and silenced by the Inquisition. The opera moves backward through key moments in his life, including his trial, his clashes with Church authority, his scientific discoveries, and the personal struggles he endured for defending his beliefs. These scenes capture Galileo’s isolation, his brilliance, and the tension between science and faith in a world resistant to change.
The opera culminates in Galileo’s childhood, as he attends a performance of an opera written by his father, Vincenzo Galilei. This final scene highlights both the continuity of artistic and intellectual inquiry within his family and the sense of wonder that shaped Galileo’s imagination from the beginning. By traveling backward in time, Glass frames Galileo’s life as a meditation on memory, legacy, and the eternal human quest for truth.
Show Information
Context
Philip Glass composed Galileo Galilei in 2002, with a libretto by Mary Zimmerman, Arnold Weinstein, and John Eaton. The work continues Glass’s long-standing fascination with historical and intellectual figures, following in the tradition of his earlier portrait operas such as Einstein on the Beach, Satyagraha, and Akhnaten. Each of these operas explores transformative individuals who changed the course of human understanding, and Galileo stands as a natural successor in this lineage—a scientist
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Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass, Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone, Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Not Specified |
|
Songs
Act I
Notes
The opera moves backward in time, so the opening is Galileo in blindness and isolation, and the closing shows him as a child inspired by his father’s music.
Many roles are doubled or tripled in performance. For instance, the same singer may portray Cardinal Barberini and Pope Urban VIII, or multiple ages of Galileo may be cast with related voice types.
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A genre of drama based on real people’s lives, exploring their challenges, accomplishments, and inner conflicts.
A chamber opera is a small-scale opera typically written for a modest cast and reduced instrumental ensemble, designed for performance in intimate venues rather than large opera houses. These works often emphasize clarity of text, intimacy of storytelling, and flexibility of staging. Because of their size, chamber operas are especially popular with universities, regional companies, and groups exploring contemporary or experimental repertoire.
A theatrical style that emphasizes simplicity in staging and dialogue to focus attention on core themes and performance.
A style of vocal delivery in opera where the singer adopts the rhythms of ordinary speech. It advances plot between arias and provides narrative context.
A tableau is a staged moment where performers freeze in a visually powerful pose or arrangement, almost like a living picture. Instead of dialogue or movement, the image itself communicates the meaning—whether it’s celebrating triumph, mourning loss, or showing a turning point in the story. In an opera such as Ça Ira, which dramatizes the French Revolution, tableaux are often used to symbolize big events like the storming of the Bastille or the collective spirit of the people.
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Guide Written By:
Jason Engleman
Humming show tunes day and night.