Galileo Galilei is an opera based on excerpts from the life of Galileo Galilei, which premiered in 2002 at Chicago's Goodman Theatre, as well as subsequent presentations at the Brooklyn Academy of Music's New Wave Music Festival and London's Barbican Theatre.

The music is by Philip Glass, with libretto and original direction by Mary Zimmerman and Arnold Weinstein.

Opening with him as an old, blind man after the trial and Inquisition for his heresy, it explores his religiosity as well as his break with the church.

Maria Celeste shared her father's love of learning and science, but also understood that he was a man of great faith.

Much of the staging in this production is representative of Galileo's theories and follows the patterns of the discoveries, planets, and constellations that his inventions made known to the world.

Recantation The officials of the Catholic Church rebuke the scientist for not relenting on his theory that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

The Pope hands down his sentence, and then reminds Galileo of a time when they walked in the garden as friends.

Pears Maria Celeste, the daughter of Galileo, sends her intense devotion love and support through letters that are accompanied by elements of her garden at the convent.

Trial Galileo is summoned before two Cardinals of the Catholic Church to answer questions regarding his book "Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief Systems of the World".

Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief Systems of the World As Galileo pens his book, the fictitious characters come alive to discuss the theories presented.