The LA Opera production of Philip Glass’s Satyagraha is one of the most visually stunning and ultimately moving productions to happen in Los Angeles all year. This is a must-see production.
This production, which runs through November 11th, stars Sean Panikkar as Gandhi. Go here for our interview with him. Phelim McDermott directed Satyagraha originally in 2007 at the English National Opera. By having this production at LA Opera, they are one of the few U.S. companies to have performed Glass’s Akhnaten, Einstein on the Beach and Satyagraha. This is the complete trilogy of biographical operas Glass has composed.
The opera is in Sanskrit – based on the Baghavad Gita. There are no supertitles. And none are needed. Knowing the text is not necessary to enjoy the opera which depicts three different time periods in Gandhi’s life. Though limited text is projected as part of the production, it is the emotion that carries you through the opera.
It might be hard for some to reconcile that an opera by Philip Glass could prove to be an opera for even people who don’t like opera. But the music is amongst the most emotional the composer has ever written. McDermott’s staging is creative and never gets in the way of the storytelling. And the performances are breathtaking – particularly Panikkar in the final ten minutes of the opera.
Don’t miss this production.
Photo of Sean Panikkar and the ensemble in Satyagraha by Cory Weaver.
