James McVinnie Ensemble Presents Glassworks

James McVinnie brought together a bespoke ensemble at the Barbican for an evening celebrating the music of Philip Glass, centred around a new arrangement of the composer's landmark album Glassworks. Directed by McVinnie, the programme traced Glass's evolution from early minimalist works including Music in Fifths to the accessibility of Glassworks, presented alongside the world premiere of Chris P. Thompson's True Stories & Rational Numbers.

Originally conceived for the Philip Glass Ensemble, Glassworks was reimagined by McVinnie for keyboards, voice, flute, saxophones and clarinets, highlighting the flexibility and enduring influence of Glass's music. The concert paired these seminal works with Thompson's exploration of alternative tuning systems, creating a programme that connected minimalism, contemporary composition and new approaches to sound.

Creative Team
James McVinnie • Philip Glass • Chris P. Thompson • Eliza McCarthy • Siwan Rhys • Hugh Rowlands • Victoria Couper • Zinajda Kodrič • Nicki Hutchins • Jon Shenoy

Collaborators
Barbican

Programme
Music in Fifths — Philip Glass
Glassworks — Philip Glass (arranged by James McVinnie)
True Stories & Rational Numbers (World Premiere) — Chris P. Thompson

Dates
Tue 23 Nov 2021 – Barbican Hall, London, UK