Philip Glass - Itaipú (Brad Lubman)

Information

Composer: Philip Glass

1. Itaipú: I. Mato Grosso
2. Itaipú: II. The Lake
3. Itaipú: III. The Dam
4. Itaipú: IV. To the Sea

Munich Philharmonic Orchestra

Brad Lubman, conductor

Date: 2025

Label: Münchner Philharmoniker GBR

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Philip Glass’s Itaipú (1989) is a choral-symphonic work inspired by the Itaipú dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric plant, completed in 1984 on the Brazil–Paraguay border. While symbolizing human ingenuity, the project also displaced 40,000 Guaraní people and devastated natural habitats. Glass incorporates the Guaraní creation myth of a flood reshaping life, with the Philharmonic Choir embodying these ancestral voices and reflecting on humanity’s fragile bond with nature. Written in Glass’s minimalist style, the music develops hypnotic, image-rich power, merging fascination and unease. Under Brad Lubman’s direction, the work emerges as a monumental, irresistible soundscape of both achievement and loss.

Brad Lubman (b. 1962) is an American conductor, composer, and leading interpreter of contemporary music. Renowned for his versatility and precision, he has conducted major orchestras including the Royal Concertgebouw, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Bavarian Radio Symphony, and Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. A champion of new music, he has collaborated with ensembles such as Ensemble Modern, London Sinfonietta, and Klangforum Wien, and appeared at Europe’s top festivals. Co-founder and director of Ensemble Signal, he has led over 350 concerts and award-winning recordings, notably Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians. He teaches at Eastman and the Bang on a Can Summer Institute.

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