
Plot
Philip Glass’ opera “Akhnaten”, premiered in Stuttgart in 1984, forms the third part of the portrait opera trilogy about personalities who have influenced the course of human history. The conclusion of the trilogy deals with the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten, who attempted to establish a kind of monotheistic cult around the god Aton during his reign in the 14th century BC, but failed due to the resistance of the priesthood. The production presented here was undoubtedly one of the very great successes of the 2019/20 season at New York’s Metropolitan Opera, due not only to the outstanding cast of singers (led by countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo) but also to Phelim McDermott’s imaginative staging, which captivates with sometimes breathtaking imagery.
Trailer
Cast

Anthony Roth Costanzo
Akhnaten

J’Nai Bridges
Nefertiti

Dísella Lárusdóttir
Queen Tye

Zachary James
Amenhotep III / A professor

Richard Berstein
Aye

Will Liverman
General Horemhab

Aaron Blake
High Priest of Amon

Lindsay Ohse
Bekhetaten

Karen Chia-ling Ho
Meretaten

Chrystal E. Williams
Maketaten

Annie Rosen
Ankhesenpaaten

Olivia Vote
Neferneferuaten

Suzanne Hendrix
Sotopenre

Christian J. Conner
Young Tutankhamun

Joyce DiDonato
Self - Host

Karen Kamensek
Self - Conductor

MET Orchestra