It takes about a year to write an opera for me, but not a…
![“It takes about a year to write an opera for me, but not a really a year of writing. I'm touring at the same time, and I'm playing, sometimes doing smaller projects.[The opera] Akhnaten fits in with Gandhi and Einstein, so that forms a trilogy in a way.I picked people who were these kind of larger…” quote by Philip Glass](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/20d/philip-glass-14533_admirable_it-takes-about-a-year-to-write-an-opera_444252.jpg)
“It takes about a year to write an opera for me, but not a really a year of writing. I'm touring at the same time, and I'm playing, sometimes doing smaller projects.[The opera] Akhnaten fits in with Gandhi and Einstein, so that forms a trilogy in a way.I picked people who were these kind of larger than life characters, who kind of changed the world they lived in by almost the force of their personality and their inventiveness. People that I think not only do I admire but I think they're admirable people.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Glass explains that composing an opera takes about a year of active work, though he balances it with touring and other projects, and he chooses subjects like Akhnaten, Gandhi, and Einstein because they are larger‑than‑life figures whose personalities reshaped history.
In simple terms: Composing opera is a year‑long effort, intertwined with other work; he selects iconic historical figures for their transformative impact.
Key Takeaway
Choose subjects subjects; relate their traits to your work.
Themes
creativity
history
artistic vision
Mood
reflective
inspired
Type
artistic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- opera composition
- touring
- project planning
- creative collaboration
Key Concepts
biography
influence
character study
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you find inspiration in everyday people?
- What personal traits of these icons can you emulate?
A Different Perspective
The focus on famous figures may overlook lesser‑known innovators.