Philip Glass: Koyaanisqatsi

Classical Music

Philip Glass: Koyaanisqatsi

Monday, 12/05/2025 / 08:00 PM - 09:30 PM / Elbphilharmonie (Großer Saal)

Cinema atmosphere in the Elbphilharmonie Grand Hall: the Philip Glass Ensemble plays its eponymous founder’s soundtrack to the 1982 cult film »Koyaanisqatsi« live. Translated from the American Hopi language, the film title means »life out of balance« – the criticism of the often hectic life of modern man at the time is still relevant today.

The soundtrack by the minimal music legend Philip Glass enhances the hypnotic effect of the film, resulting in an audio-visual synthesis of the arts. The faster the machines turn and the assembly lines run, the more stressed the people working on them become, the more Glass ramps up the tempo of his repetitive music patterns. Although the composer himself no longer performs, his ensemble carries on the spirit of his music, true to the original.

PERFORMERS

Philip Glass Ensemble Ensemble

Michael Riesman keyboard and musical director

Andrew Sterman flute, soprano saxophone

Ann Cecil Sterman flute, piccolo

Olivier Sliepen soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone

Lisa Bielawa keyboard, vocals

Nelson Padgett keyboard

Feico Deutekom keyboard

Pascal Meyer keyboard

Ryan Kelly sound mix

Dan Bora sound mix

PROGRAM

Film with live music by Philip Glass

»Koyaanisqatsi« (director: Godfrey Reggio, USA 1982)

All statements without guarantee.

More information