An old order fades, a new age dawns

Phillip Glass' opera tracing the life of Pharaoh Akhnaten returns in this revival from director Phelim McDermott of the Improbable Theatre Company. This work is the third of the minimalist composer's portrait trilogy that also comprised operas about Einstein and Gandhi. This mesmerising story tells the tale of one of the world's most influential figures, Pharoah Akhnatent and his switch from worshiping gods to worshiping only the sun.

The operatic dialogue was composed using various texts taken from ancient letters, hymns, inscriptions and prayers; to add to the historic authenticity the opera is sung in Hebrew, Egyptian and Akkadian. Centred on the life and religious beliefs of the titular pharaoh, from the early years of his rein in Thebes, all the way to the modern day where his ghost and that of queen Nefertiti mourn their ruined city.