Ballet Imitates an Artist's Life

The artist Chuck Close is known for his portraits (and self-portraits). But Philip Glass, a composer whose credits include scores for Notes on a Scandal and The Illusionist and music for The Hours, takes Close as his subject in "A Musical Portrait of Chuck Close." Pianist Bruce Levingston debuted the piece at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall in 2005, and on October 27th an adaptation of the piece will take the stage at the American Ballet Theatre. Three movements have been added to Glass' original composition, Ralph Rucci has designed the costumes, and Close, himself, the sets.

You can listen to part of the composition for piano here.