Einstein on the Beach

N.p. N.p., 1976. Five vintage photographs, including four borderless double weight photographs, of experimental playwright and director Robert Wilson, including two photographs with minimalist composer Philip Glass, taken during the collaborative creation of the 1976 opera "Einstein on the Beach." The four borderless double weight photographs all with Betty Freeman photographer stamps on the versos, one with cropping annotations in orange wax pencil on the recto.

"Einstein on the Beach" premiered on July 25, 1976, at the Festival d’Avignon in France, performed by the Philip Glass Ensemble and presented by the Byrd Hoffmann Foundation. It was also staged that summer in Hamburg, Paris, Belgrade, Venice, Brussels, and Rotterdam. In November of the same year, it made its American debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York.

One of Robert Wilson’s most well-known works, a quintessentially minimalist, formalist opera, as well as a turning point in American theater. Though rife throughout with symbols from Einstein’s life and work, there is no direct plot line attached to him in the opera—instead he is portrayed predominantly as a historical figure. Also the first instance of Wilson’s entr’acte vignettes, which he calls “knee plays.”

The piece was Glass’ first and longest opera score, approximately five hours in length. In its original conception, there is no intermission—rather, the audience is encouraged to enter and leave as desired.

Betty Freeman was a philanthropist, photographer, and a long-standing supporter of contemporary music, and had compositions dedicated to her from composers John Cage, Lou Harrison, Steve Reich, and John Adams. In 1973 Freeman financed the 1974 documentary about experimental composer Harry Partch, "The Dreamer That Remains: A Portrait of Harry Partch," directed by Stephen Pouliot.

4) 7 x 9.5 inches. 1) 8 x 10 inches. Near Fine overall.

[Book #170895]