Philip Glass and Wendy Sutter

Last night I went back to the City Winery, this time to see Philip Glass with Wendy Sutter. At first, I wasn't sure the venue was suited for this type of music, but the audience was respectful, and the evening proved to be a successful one, a stray cell phone notwithstanding.

Glass started the show, playing a selection of three of his Metamorphosis pieces for solo piano. His playing felt stiff at first, but he slowly eased into his pieces and managed to smooth out some edges as he continued. He thanked the audience for its enthusiastic reception and joked that he was playing for a home town crowd.

Wendy Sutter took the stage next to play a suite for solo cello that Glass had written for her. Her tone was full and broad and the warmth of her playing filled the room. Glass appeared after the suite and said they'd play together in a little while; in the meantime he'd play another piece for piano to let her catch her breath.

He told us the next piece was commissioned for the first public appearance of the Dalai Lama in New York, in 1981. Glass told us that the organizers didn't know how long it would take for the Dalai Lama to arrive, and he was asked to write a piece "of indeterminant length." Glass repeated the words and said it would be no problem. The audience laughed.

The piece was originally written for organ, but Glass had transcribed it for piano so that he could perform it more regularly. He noted that Lucinda Childs had choreographed a piece to the music entitled "Mad Rush," by which the music has since become known.

Sutter returned after the piece, and Glass introduced the next three songs as being from music he wrote to accompany a Jean Genet play. He named the titles of the pieces, but confessed he didn't remember the play. He paused and then noted that he at least could remember the titles. The music was beautiful, and it was wonderful to hear them play together. Throughout the music seemed to change with each performer, and had I not known the composer behind all the pieces I might not have put them together.

When they had finished playing, Glass rose with Sutter to acknowledge the applause. He stepped to the mic and said they had prepared two encores. We wouldn't have to wait; they'd play them immediately. Glass then performed "Opening" for solo piano, and Sutter played a new piece for solo cello that Glass had written. They took bows together to a standing ovation.
Posted by eku at March 16, 2009 9:42 AM