Koyaanisqatsi with Live Score by Philip Glass at Accademia di Santa Cecilia
On November 11, 2021, the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, in partnership with the Romaeuropa Festival, hosted a live screening of Godfrey Reggio's 1982 documentary 'Koyaanisqatsi,' with additional performances scheduled for November 12 and 13. The live score, crafted by Philip Glass, was performed by the Orchestra and Chorus of the Accademia under the direction of Michael Riesman, alongside the Philip Glass Ensemble (PGE). This film, the inaugural entry in the Qatsi trilogy—followed by 'Powaqqatsi' (1988) and 'Naqoyqatsi' (2002)—was shot by Ron Fricke and critiques themes of industrialization and overpopulation, featuring iconic sites such as the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station and Kennedy Space Center, accompanied by a 90-minute orchestral score.
Key facts
- Film 'Koyaanisqatsi' screened live with Philip Glass score at Accademia di Santa Cecilia, November 11-13, 2021.
- Event co-organized with Romaeuropa Festival.
- Music performed by Orchestra and Chorus of Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, conducted by Michael Riesman, plus Philip Glass Ensemble.
- Philip Glass Ensemble founded in 1968 in New York, debuted at Whitney Museum in 1969.
- Film directed by Godfrey Reggio, cinematography by Ron Fricke using time-lapse.
- Title means 'life out of balance' in Hopi language.
- First film of Qatsi trilogy; includes 'Powaqqatsi' (1988) and 'Naqoyqatsi' (2002).
- Features locations: Utah, Canyonlands National Park, Lake Powell (Arizona), San Onofre nuclear plant (California), Kennedy Space Center (Florida), Chicago, New York.
- Concludes with Horseshoe Canyon's Great Gallery rock art site (61m long, 4.6m high).
- Score organized in six movements.
Entities
Artists
- Philip Glass
- Godfrey Reggio
- Ron Fricke
- Michael Riesman
- Giorgia Basili
Institutions
- Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
- Romaeuropa Festival
- Philip Glass Ensemble
- Whitney Museum of American Art
Locations
- New York
- Utah
- Canyonlands National Park
- Lake Powell
- Arizona
- San Onofre
- California
- Kennedy Space Center
- Florida
- Chicago
- New York City
- Horseshoe Canyon
- SoHo
- Baltimore