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Overview

Synopsis

Akhnaten was a pharaoh of the 18th dynasty of Egypt, and reigned from 1353-1336 BC. He took the throne after the death of Amenhotep III, and lived a life like many men; he married and raised a family, whilst trying to cope with pressure from his mother. As a ruler, Akhnaten is best remembered for his radical religious beliefs. He was inspired to try and unite the previous polytheistic beliefs of the Egyptians into a monotheism, worshipping Aten, the sun.

Akhnaten is the final installment in a trilogy of biopic operas, which includes Einstein on the Beach, about Albert Einstein, and Satyagraha, about Mahatma Gandhi. Like its predecessors, Akhnaten dispenses with any formal idea of plot. Instead, important moments in the timeline of Akhnaten’s life are depicted through the use of vocal and orchestra soundscapes, ancient hymns and texts, and Philip Glass’s characteristic minimalism. Akhnaten serves as a window into an entire ancient world, even incorporating original Egyptian, Hebrew, and Arcadian texts, to bring ancient voices back to life, and to celebrate the man who is now considered by many to be the founder of monotheistic religion.

Show Information

Music
Philip Glass
Libretto
Philip Glass
Based on the Play/Book/Film
Libretto created from original texts with assistance from Shalom Goldman, Robert Israel, and Richard Riddell
Category
Opera
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
3
First Produced
1984
Genres
Historical/Biographical
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings, Spectacle
Time & Place
Ancient Egypt, Thebes, 1350-1336 BC
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Medium
Dancing
Some Dance
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
Professional Opera, College/University, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Child, Early Teen, Late Teen Characters, Medium Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Akhnaten

Lead

Male

Countertenor

Nefertiti

Lead

Female

Contralto

Amenhotep

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Amon

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Horemhab

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Aye

Supporting

Male

Bass

Queen Tye

Supporting

Female

Soprano

Six Daughters of Akhnaten

Ensemble

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto

Chorus

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Contralto

Songs

Author’s note: Any titles in Italics are the author’s own, and generally indicate a soundscape scene, where formal words are not used.

Act One

Prelude

  • ‘Open are the double doors’ - Amenhotep
  • ‘He flies who flies’ - Amenhotep

Scene 1: Funeral of Amenhotep III

  • Funeral Chorus ‘Ankh ankh en mitak’ - Funeral Party
  • ’Ya inen makhent en ra’ - Funeral Party, Aye, Chorus

Scene 2: The Coronation of Akhnaten

  • ‘Yenedj hrack yemi’ - Amon, Horemhab, Aye
  • ‘Live the horus’ - Amenhotep
  • ‘Yenedj hrack yemi’ - Chorus

Scene 3: The Window of Appearances

  • ‘Tut wua yeri’ - Akhnaten, Tye, Nefertiti

Act Two

Scene 1: The Temple

  • ‘Amen, Amen’ - Amon, Chorus
  • The new order - Akhnaten, Tye, Chorus

Scene 2: Akhnaten and Nefertiti

  • ‘I breathe the sweet breath’ - Amenhotep
  • Duet ‘Sesenet/Neftu nedjem per em rek’ - Akhnaten, Nefertiti

Scene 3: The City

  • Monologue: ‘And his majesty said unto them’ - Amenhotep
  • Dance

Scene 4: Hymn

Act Three

Scene 1: The Family

  • The Family - 6 Daughters, Nefertiti, Akhnaten
  • ‘I have written repeatedly for troops’ - Amenhotep
  • The Family - Akhnaten, 2 Daughters

Scene 2: Attack and Fall

  • ‘Limlikmi shari’ - Amon, Horemhab, Aye, Chorus

Scene 3: The Ruins

  • Prologue ‘The sun of him who knew thee not’ - Amenhotep
  • ‘To reach Tel-al-amarna’ - Amenhotep

Epilogue

  • The Ghosts - Tye, Nefertiti, Akhnaten

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

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Guide Written By:

Wendy Silvester

Wendy Silvester

Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.