I'm a long time fan of Philip Glass and while I can understand some of the negative reviews, I have to disagree. It's wonderful to hear him performing live again. Sure there are timing fluctuations and possible missed notes. But so what? These are his compositions after all and he's entitled to play them however he wants. A highly recommended edition to your Glass discography.

This was a quick and easy blind buy for me, since I love Glass's music and have many CDs of it. Some problems here, though. First, Phil is in his mid-70's now, and judging solely from the performance of the first two pieces here, his piano technique is no longer the equal of his composing skills. Odd tempo shifts, missed notes. In recordings made 15 or so years ago, he has no problems with these pieces; now, not so much. Too bad. Second, the acoustic here (while I recognize this is a live and not a studio recording) is not very forgiving to the string sounds of the various chamber pieces. The Knee Play, for example, while an impressive example of virtuoso fiddling, is harsh enough to make the listener want to drive off the road, just to make it end. The other pieces sound equally harsh to my ears. Finally, the Ginzberg recitation--if I heard correctly, Mr Ira Glass stumbles once or twice in his reading of the Ginzberg poem. All in all, a recording for for Glass completists, I think. But--that having been said: More power to you Philip Glass; live long and prosper! You and John Adams are our greatest living American composers!

Philip Glass is a national treasure. To know that Ira Glass is his cousin and to hear that voice from "This American Life" on Witchita Vortex Sutra is very nice.

This is a great introduction to the work of Philip Glass if you aren't familiar. There are better recordings of his piano works, but this is very good at what it sets out to do.

This was Apple's first classical event from SoHo and it seemed appropriate to invite their neighbor Philip Glass, who 40 years ago began to make his name in the very same lofts which surround the refurbished old Post Office which is now Apple swanky retail store. This is a good program with two selection of Glass himself playing solo piano. Later on he accompanies his cousin and public radio superstar Ira Glass in a rendition of the Glass/Ginsberg piece "Wichita Vortex Sutra" and Glass also accompanies cellist Wendy Sutter in a couple of selections from The Screens including the sumptuous "The French Lieutenant Dreams" which was written as music for the Genet play. This was also a showcase for the excellent violinist Tim Fain who recently, perhaps two years ago, performed the solo violin in a concert performance of Einstein on the Beach at Carnegie Hall with the Philip Glass Ensemble. We hear him hear with a performance of "Knee Play No.2." Sutter and Fain then joined up with their colleagues Jesse Mills, David Harding, Hsin-Yun Huang, and Alexis Pia Gerlach a.k.a. The Glass Chamber Players for a performance of the Glass Symphony No.3 arranged for string sextet. All and all a great and varied concert in an unconventional venue. The audience was enthusiastic.

Glass's music appears even more transparent live, showing the lack of structure. Most of the works here have been played into the ground. It would have been at least worth it if they had someone play his new violin sonata. If you listen halfway through the sextet you can hear Richard G trying to suppress a cough, that's sort of worth getting it I guess. -Bz

This performace is very well executed and contains many of Glass' best pieces for piano and chamber group. I particularly enjoyed the String Sextet. A definate buy.