[1] The philosophical dilemma faced by Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita is dramatized in operatic form with a blend of Indian classical music, Western Classical music, and jazz[2][3] with lyrics in Sanskrit.
[5] The performers play versions of the Hindu god Krishna,[6] Arjuna's charioteer in the battle, who convinces the initially hesitant Arjuna to fight an army including his relative, friends, and teachers to regain his kingdom after revealing his (Krishna's) own divine identity[4] as well as the true nature of the universe.
[9][10] A recording of Arjuna’s Dilemma, released on Innova Recordings, was performed by artists including Indian singer Amit Chatterjee, members of Anonymous 4 and the Philip Glass Ensemble, tenor Tony Boutté, Badal Roy, Ethel, pianist Kathleen Supové, and bassist Robert Black.
[11] The New York Times described Arjuna's Dilemma as "an opera with an appealing and unabashedly eclectic score.
"[12] New York Magazine's Justin Davidson called it, "a pile of half-realized good ideas.