The Philip Glass Ensemble will come to Oslo Concert Hall on September 28 with their fantastic Glassworks
Although Philip Glass himself is not on this tour, The Philip Glass Ensemble (PGE) consists of the principal performers of his music. The ensemble was founded in 1968 in New York as an experiment for his own music.
The aim was to develop a performance practice that could meet the extraordinary technical and artistic demands of their compositions. Through this approach, PGE became an important creative force for Glass, and the ensemble's members remain among the foremost interpreters of his works.
The artists in PGE are aware of the unique role the ensemble has played in music history over the past fifty years. Continuing this legacy is a central part of their work, with a strong dedication to training the next generation of artists in the authentic performance of Philip Glass' music.
PGE made its debut at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1969, and in the early years, the ensemble primarily performed in galleries, artist lofts, and museums within SoHo's vibrant art scene. Over the past five decades, PGE has played at prestigious festivals and concert halls around the world, and has released recordings through Sony, Nonesuch, and Orange Mountain Music.
Many of Philip Glass' most famous works were written specifically for PGE. Among these are the concert works Music in Twelve Parts, Music in Similar Motion, and Music with Changing Parts, as well as the opera and musical theater projects Einstein on the Beach, Hydrogen Jukebox, 1000 Airplanes on the Roof, and Monsters of Grace, along with dance works Dance with Lucinda Childs and A Descent Into the Maelström with Australian Dance Theater.
PGE is perhaps best known for the music of Godfrey Reggio's wordless film trilogy Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqqatsi, and Naqoyqatsi. The ensemble also participates in Glass' operas La Belle et la Bête and The Photographer.
In the 2026–2027 season, PGE will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Einstein on the Beach with a series of concert performances of the work, in addition to extensive touring activities.
The event has no age limit - everyone in the audience must redeem a ticket
