Akhnaten is an opera in three acts based on the life and religious convictions of the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV),[1] written by the American composer Philip Glass in 1983.

The libretto is by Philip Glass in association with Shalom Goldman, Robert Israel, Richard Riddell, and Jerome Robbins.

These three people were all driven by an inner vision which altered the age in which they lived: Akhenaten in religion, Einstein in science, and Gandhi in politics.

Paul Esswood sang the title role, German director Achim Freyer staged the opera in an abstract style with highly ritualistic movements.

The UK premiere, based on the American production, was on June 17, 1985, by English National Opera at the London Coliseum.

[13] A November 2020 production at Opéra de Nice Côte d’Azur was performed without an audience and screened online, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This production was produced and choreographed by longtime Glass collaborator Lucinda Childs, who conducted rehearsals remotely.

He is joined by Queen Tye, whose soprano soars high above the soon intertwining voices of the royal couple, and later by Nefertiti, who actually sings lower notes than he.

Accompanied by a solo trombone while the harmony switches to B(sus), the Narrator recites a prayer-like poem to the sun god.

After a brass fanfare, the completion of the city is celebrated in a light-hearted dance, contrasting with the stark, ritualistic music with which this act began.

Horemhab, Aye and the High Priest of Amon instigate the people (as the chorus), singing part of the vassal's letters (in their original Akkadian language) until finally the palace is attacked, the royal family killed, and the city of the sun destroyed.

The scribe recites an inscription on Aye's tomb, praising the death of "the great criminal" and the new reign of the old gods.

The Prelude music grows stronger and the scene moves to present-day Egypt, to the ruins of Amarna, the former capital Akhetaten.

Scene 4: Epilogue The ghosts of Akhnaten, Nefertiti and Queen Tye appear, singing wordlessly amongst the ruins.