DVD Review: “Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts”
Rating: 82
Common misperceptions abound with Philip Glass: that the man must be as esoteric as his work, and that his music is entirely minimalist. In fact, much of the composer’s output is classically structured, and director Scott Hicks (“Shine”) finds connections with other mediums and provides context for Glass’ art in “Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts,” a stylish and comprehensive study of one of modern orchestral music’s greatest composers.
Using archival still photography, Hicks chronicles Glass’ beginnings as a SoHo experimentalist, staging concerts in the ‘60s that doubled as atonal performance art. Glass’ work since the mid-‘80s is often lush and romantic, but his early music was often repetitive and dissonant. Eventually, even his staunchest critics came on board as his compositions became more exposed through film (“Koyaanisqatsi”) and collaborations with rock musicians (“Low Symphony,” with David Bowie and Brian Eno).
Originally aired on PBS, “Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts” reveals Glass as an amiable and down-to-earth conversationalist and family man, and collaborators such as Chuck Close, Martin Scorsese and Errol Morris offer considerable insight into his processes and character. The two-DVD set adds three hours of bonus interviews and performances, making “Glass” a fine portrait of a groundbreaking artist.
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I can’t wait to see this! Glass has played in important role in bridging the gap between the Western (experimental) classical tradition and pop culture.