*GLASS* Piano Solo 1969-1999

*10.00 PM*I was sitting on a chair with A-3 tag on the right arm (although my ticket said explicitly A-1), and since I was alone up there in the berth I had the liberty to choose the seat facing the stage. _“Hey! It’s time! Where the hell is Glass?”_, some said.*10.10 PM*Despite of being up high on the third balcony, I saw Mr. Glass gliding in all dressed in black, as he usually does. He sat by the piano, introduced himself and like he was giving us the piano lesson of our life (by introducing every single piece and all the history within) without any sheet music, +he set our minds back to nineteen seventy-nine with:+1. Fourth Series Part Four (1979) – *Mad Rush*composition for organ, originally choreographed with CharlestonDuring the introduction he explained he would play pieces from 1969 to 1999, in no specific order. Each time he concluded a piece the only sound hearbled was hands clapping, but at the moment he touches the microphone and/or puts his hands on the piano the whole room merges into a deep silence. +Then:+2. (1987) *Whichita Vortex Sutra*composition for piano, inspiration and title took from a poem of Allen Ginsberg (1963) – I remember him talking something about the Vietnam experience3. Metamorphosis (1981) – *Metamorphosis I / II / III / IV*He prolonged the pauses between the movements in order to show us his path along the black-and-white-keyed road.The man has a great sense of humor: he said some funny stuff that kept everyone laughing (at least nodding their heads while smiling).4. Études for Piano 1-10 (1991/99) – *Étude o.1 / 2 / 4 / 6 / 10*He’s still composing for this collection, and he told it's already up to no. 16 _“but I only know how to play ten”_. 5. The Screens (1989) – *Night on the Balcony*Score composed by Glass and Foday Musa Suso for Jean Janet’s play, which takes place in the early 60’s in Algeria during the revolutionary struggle for independence from France. The piece is a combination of European with Western and African musical traditions.6. Glassworks (1981) – *Closing*_"Now I'm going to play something of apiano piece from 1991, the album that starts with Opening and ends with Closing. They're are very similar, you can't barely tell the difference between them... I'm playing *Closing*."_ *11.40 PM* He thought he could get away from us with that “Closing” (how clever of his). I guess Philip Glass wasn’t expecting an audience thirsty for his fingers. +He came back for encore:+7.Einstein on the Beach (1976/96) - *Knee Play 4*+And again for a second encore:+8. Music from Thin Blue Line (1979) – *Thin Blue Line*"this is the last piece, then you go home - except for me. I can't go home.." (aww… poor man)It was noticeable his rush – *Thin Blue Line’s last notes screamed out loud “I want to get out of there”* – (those kinds of rush like when you desperately need a bathroom or your kitchen is on fire) and unfortunately some _”brave cup of tea”_ didn’t accomplish her mission. Sorry Flower, I tried but... couldn’t find the man.*MIDNIGHT* ...and you could see loads of people exiting the building with a huge smile on their faces – for sure everyone had a good night sleep, like me. :)