Akhnaten

February 28 - March 22, 2026

Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

Saturday

February 28

7:30 PM

Sunday

March 8

2:00 PM

Wednesday

March 11

7:30 PM

Saturday

March 14

7:30 PM

Thursday

March 19

7:30 PM

Sunday

March 22

2:00 PM

Composed by Philip Glass, conducted by Dalia Stasevska

Experience the rise and fall of a dynasty

At a Glance

Philip Glass' acclaimed opera returns by popular demand
Phelim McDermott’s spectacular production features stunning sets and costumes that feature animal heads, exotic plumes and intricate beadwork
Music that has permeated culture from New York City Ballet to Netflix’s Stranger Things

Hailed by critics and beloved by audiences, this eagerly anticipated revival transports you to Ancient Egypt in Philip Glass’s enthralling portrait of a trailblazing pharaoh. Countertenor John Holiday is the titular Akhnaten, determined to lead Egypt into a new age even as his plan to abandon the old gods puts his kingdom (and his life) in peril. Mezzo-soprano Sun-Ly Pierce is his queen Nefertiti, soprano So Young Park is the powerful dowager Queen Tye, and Grammy winner Zachary James reprises his memorable role as Amenhotep III, leading the audience through the ritualistic action on the stage.

Director Phelim McDermott revives his visually arresting production, replete with soaring acrobats, astonishing jugglers, and towering sets. With a libretto drawing on ancient texts like The Book of the Dead and a hypnotic, atmospheric score, Akhnaten portrays a doomed visionary with all his feats and foibles. Finland’s Dalia Stasevska makes her company debut conducting this tribute to one of the most transformative chapters in Egyptian history.

Running time: approximately three hours, including two intermissions.

Sung in English, Ancient Egyptian, Biblical Hebrew and Akkadian, with English subtitles.

A co-production of LA Opera and English National Opera. A collaboration with Improbable.

Listen

“

"Spellbinding....fantastical evocations of the pharaoh’s world" —The New York Times

John Holiday "is a force of nature, no doubt about it... Wonderfully dynamic, possessed of star wattage, somewhat celestial, he sings as if he had iron lungs." —Houston Press

Dalia Stasevska "has been turning heads in the orchestra world for her vivid leadership, powerful musicality and the sheer joy that she communicates to listeners." —Cincinnati Business Courier

Synopsis

Act One
(Year 1 of Akhnaten’s reign. Thebes.)

Funeral of Amenhotep III
The opera begins with the death of Amenhotep III. We see him first revealed both as a corpse and as a ghostly figure, reciting words taken from the Egyptian Book of the Dead. During the ceremony, we see a sacred ritual performed in which the body’s organs are carefully taken out and placed into canopic jars and the body is wrapped and embalmed. A ceremony takes place that represents a ritual occurring in the Book of the Dead, in which the pharaoh’s heart is weighed against a feather; if his heart is as light as this, it will ensure that Amenhotep will travel through into the afterlife.

Coronation of Akhnaten
The figure of Amenhotep’s son steps forward and the coronation ceremony begins. The new pharaoh is dressed in sacred robes and the crowns representing Upper and Lower Egypt are brought together to symbolize Amenhotep IV’s power over all of Egypt. Once he is crowned, the new pharaoh rises up the stairs to make his first pronouncement.

The Window of Appearances
At the Window of Appearances, the pharaoh reveals his intentions to form a monotheistic religion. He changes his name from Amenhotep IV (meaning “Spirit of Amon”) to Akhnaten (meaning “Spirit of Aten”). Aten, the sun god, is glorified by Akhnaten, his wife Nefertiti and his mother Queen Tye. As the trio makes this pronouncement at the window, the sun rises behind them.

Act Two
(Years 5 to 15. Thebes and Akhetaten.)

The Temple
Akhnaten and Queen Tye begin to make the changes that he has promised. He leads a revolt to banish the old religion and replace it with his own. Akhnaten enters the temple and finds the priests performing the old religious rituals. Akhnaten banishes them and forms the new order of Aten. Akhnaten and Nefertiti A simple duet is performed by Akhnaten and Nefertiti, which affirms their love for each other.

The City
The site for a new city is chosen carefully. The new city of Akhetaten (“The City of the Horizon of Aten”) is built in praise of the new religion. Hymn Akhnaten sings a private prayer to his god. His vision of a new religion and a new society is complete.

Act Three
(Year 17 and the present. Akhetaten.)

The Family
Akhnaten and Nefertiti dwell in an insular world of their own creation with their six daughters. Meanwhile Queen Tye is uneasy. She senses unrest beyond the city’s walls. Crowds gather outside the gates. Letters arrive expressing increasing concern about Akhnaten’s self-imposed isolation.

Attack and Fall
The priests of Amon emerge from the gathering crowds and break through the palace doors. The daughters try to escape and are drawn away from Akhnaten and into the swelling mass. Queen Tye and Nefertiti are also separated from Akhnaten, who is finally killed.

The Ruins
Akhnaten’s father mourns his son’s death. Meanwhile the new pharaoh, the young Tutankhamun, is crowned in a ceremony similar to that of his father, and the old polytheistic religion is restored. Intercutting this ceremony, a group of modern-day students is listening to a lecture given by a professor.

Epilogue
The ghosts of Akhnaten, Nefertiti and Queen Tye are heard from the ancient world once again.

Creative Team