#5146, Bang on a Can All-Stars Play Glassworks at Roulette, Long Play Festival
Photo of Bang on a Can All-Stars playing Glassworks at Roulette is by Peter Serling
When prolific composer Philip Glass first presented Glassworks, his iconic chamber music album filled with intricate arpeggios that are just as sophisticated as they are easy to listen to, the year was 1982. Since then, countless renditions of Glassworks emerged around the globe. But in this edition of New Sounds, you’ll hear Glassworks transformed by Glass’s long-time music director and collaborator Michael Riesman for a special performance by Bang on a Can All-Stars for this year’s Long Play Festival at Roulette.
Hear the New Sounds host John Schafer’s live interview with Michael Riesman from the event, as he recalls the email that led to this world premiere of the brand-new versions of Glassworks and explains how these arrangements compare to the original recordings, which he co-produced in the 1980s. Despite his vast experience as an arranger who knows Philip Glass’s music likely better than anyone, Riesman frames this project as highly collaborative, referring to the expert opinion of each instrumentalist in the electro-acoustic ensemble, every step of the way.
The ensemble includes Lizzie Burns (bass), Arlen Hlusko (cello), Vicky Chow (piano), David Cossin (percussion), Ken Thomson (clarinet, saxophone), and Taylor Levine (guitar), as they play Glassworks not just for the masses but also Philip Glass himself, who was among the audience members for this special event. - Sırma Munyar
Program #5146, Bang on a Can All-Stars Play Glassworks at Roulette, Long Play Festival (First aired 5/28/26)
ARTIST: Philip Glass, Brad Lubman, Michael Riesman, Signal Ensemble
WORK: Glassworks: IV. Rubric
RECORDING: Philip Glass: Glassworks - Live at (le) Poisson Rouge
SOURCE: Orange Mountain Music
INFO: https://philipglass.com/recordings/glassworkssignal/
ARTIST: Michael Riesman, Bang on a Can All-Stars
WORK: Philip Glass: Opening
RECORDING: Live at Roulette, May 2026
SOURCE: This performance is not commercially available.
INFO: The work appears on Glassworks - Live at (le) Poisson Rouge
ARTIST: Michael Riesman, Bang on a Can All-Stars
WORK: Philip Glass: Floe
RECORDING: Live at Roulette, May 2026
SOURCE: This performance is not commercially available.
INFO: The work appears on Glassworks - Live at (le) Poisson Rouge
ARTIST: Paavo Berglund, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
WORK: Jean Sibelius: Symphony No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 82
RECORDING: Sibelius: Symphonies & Tone Poems
SOURCE: Parlophone Records Limited
INFO: https://www.discogs.com/master/4096168-Sibelius-Helsinki-Philharmonic-Orchestra-Paavo-Berglund-Symphonies-1-7-Finlandia-The-Oceanides-Tapio
ARTIST: Michael Riesman, Bang on a Can All-Stars
WORK: Philip Glass: Islands
RECORDING: Live at Roulette, May 2026
SOURCE: This performance is not commercially available.
INFO: The work appears on Glassworks - Live at (le) Poisson Rouge
ARTIST: Michael Riesman, Bang on a Can All-Stars
WORK: Philip Glass: Rubric
RECORDING: Live at Roulette, May 2026
SOURCE: This performance is not commercially available.
INFO: The work appears on Glassworks - Live at (le) Poisson Rouge
ARTIST: Michael Riesman, Bang on a Can All-Stars
WORK: Philip Glass: Facades
RECORDING: Live at Roulette, May 2026
SOURCE: This performance is not commercially available.
INFO: The work appears on Glassworks - Live at (le) Poisson Rouge
ARTIST: Michael Riesman, Bang on a Can All-Stars
WORK: Philip Glass: Closing
RECORDING: Live at Roulette, May 2026
SOURCE: This performance is not commercially available.
INFO: The work appears on Glassworks - Live at (le) Poisson Rouge
