Okay, so I’m being indulgent here, since I recommended this Philip Glass opera (pictured) once already during this pandemic, when this 2019 revival production was presented on PBS’s
Great Performances at the Met. But this particular, super-limited-edition streaming special comes from
the Met’s own website, Metopera.org – and is part of a weekend double bill of Glass operas. Glass’ “Portrait Trilogy” of operas, examining brilliant minds and men who changed history in significant ways, began with
Einstein on the Beach (about Albert Einstein)
, first performed in 1976. The trilogy
continued in 1980 with
Satyagraha (about Mahatma Gandhi), and concluded in 1984 with
Akhnaten (about the pharaoh Akhenaten, a.k.a. Amenhotep IV). For only 20 hours, starting at 7:30 tonight, the Met is making its 2019 production of
Akhnaten available as a free streaming special on its website. And then – wait for it! – tomorrow night at the same time, the Met Opera website will show part two of the trilogy, its 2011 production of
Satyagraha, for the same 20-hour window. (Hey, Dad, do I have a Father’s Day treat for you! A Philip Glass opera about Gandhi!! Sung in Sanskrit!!!) And maybe this means, someday soon, The Met Opera will live stream the “missing” part of this streamed trilogy, and show us
Einstein on the Beach.