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 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Countertenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Contralto |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto |
|
|
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
- ‘Thou dost appear beautiful’ - Akhnaten
- ‘Marabbu maaseekha’ - Chorus
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
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.