Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 10, 2007

Contact: Contact: Mike Emery
713.743.8186 (office)
713.415.6551 (pager)
pemery@uh.edu

For decades, the music of Philip Glass has captured the imaginations of audiences worldwide. Now, the renowned composer will complement his works with words and images that offer insight into his creative process.

The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts (CWMCA) at the University of Houston will present “Creativity and Collaboration: An Evening with Philip Glass” at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb.19, in UH’s Moores Opera House. In this multimedia event, Glass will use examples from his own career to illustrate how artistic collaborations across genres can influence the development of an artist and can shape a career. The presentation will include film clips, discussion and selections performed live at the piano. Seating is available on a first-come-first-served basis. For additional details, call 713-743-5548.

This event will be hosted by Patrick Summers, music director for the Houston Grand Opera, and is presented in partnership with Society for the Performing Arts (SPA).

“Philip Glass is a legendary collaborator, and this event is a rare opportunity to learn how partnerships with other artists have influenced his work,” said Karen Farber, director of CWMCA. “The Mitchell Center’s mission is to promote collaboration among the performing, literary and visual arts, so we build upon on the legacies of such figures as Glass.”

The Academy Award-nominated, Golden Globe Award-winning Glass has built a career spanning nearly four decades. His compositions include symphonies, minimalist arrangements (the amplified violin piece “Strung Out”), opera (“Einstein on the Beach”), film scores (“The Hours”) and music for dance/performance pieces
(“In the Upper Room”). Just as varied as Glass’ catalog are the artists who have collaborated with him: rocker David Bowie, choreographer Twyla Tharp, sitar player Ravi Shankar, playwright/director Robert Wilson and late poet Allen Ginsberg.

“Creativity and Collaboration” is part of a citywide celebration of Glass for his 70th birthday. He will perform with the Philip Glass Ensemble in a concert presented by SPA on Feb. 23.

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.