After the success of Koyaanisqatsi, the American director Godfrey Reggio set out on the task of creating the rest of the Qatsi Trilogy. The titles of each of the three films are words borrowed from the language of the Hopi Indians. Although the works involve no plot or speaking, the music by Philip Glass is equal in importance to the visual sequences that it closely tracks. Powaqqatsi (Life in Transformation, 1988) depicts the disappearance of ancient cultures, and Naqoyqatsi (Life as War, 2002) illustrates the alienating effect of modern technologies on society. During the screening of the latter film, the music will be performed by the Philip Glass Ensemble in a new arrangement created by the composer especially for this occasion, with cello soloist Dániel Helecz and the Budafok Dohnanyi Orchestra also taking part.
This new arrangement of the piece was commissioned by the Ravenna Festival, Ireland’s National Concert Hall, the Barbican Centre and Müpa Budapest.
