Glass Pieces

Jerome Robbins (1918–1998) was one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th century, seamlessly bridging ballet and Broadway. A prolific artist, his work ranged from the innovative storytelling of West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof to groundbreaking ballets for New York City Ballet. Known for his keen musicality and ability to capture the human experience in movement, Robbins infused Glass Pieces with a striking blend of ballet’s classical technique and modern urban energy.

Philip Glass (b. 1937) is a pioneer of minimalism, known for his hypnotic, repetitive structures that create a sense of endless momentum. His music, often built on looping patterns and gradual shifts, has redefined contemporary classical music and influenced film, opera, and dance.

The score for Glass Pieces draws from three of Glass’s works: Rubric and Façades (from Glassworks, 1981) and excerpts from Akhnaten, his opera about the Egyptian pharaoh. The pulsing rhythms of Rubric drive the ballet’s opening, evoking the rush of a city at peak energy. Façades offers a haunting contrast, with its meditative tones and ghostlike movement. The final section, drawn from Akhnaten, builds into an exhilarating crescendo, propelling the dancers—and the audience—into an unstoppable flow of movement.