Akhnaten Tickets

Akhnaten Opera Tickets

Opera buffs who purchase Akhnaten tickets may also want to brush up on their ancient languages. This contemporary three-act opera, by American composer and 2018 Kennedy Center Honoree Philip Glass, premiered in 1984 at the Staatsoper in Stuttgart, Germany. The opera begins in 1350 B.C.E. in ancient Thebes and unfolds over Akhnaten’s 17-year reign. Amenhotep IV is crowned king and changes his name to Akhnaten, which means “spirit of the sun.” He forms a new religion dedicated to the sun disk, or “Aten,” a complete departure from how (and what) Egyptians have worshiped for the past 1300 years. Scholars of Egyptian history with Akhnaten tickets will recognize familiar characters, such as Akhnaten’s wife, the famed beauty Queen Nefertiti.

In Act II, Akhnaten banishes the priests who are still praying to the old gods and builds a palace and a city dedicated to the sun. Act II ends with the beautiful countertenor aria, “The Hymn,” sung by Akhnaten.

Act III begins with Akhnaten, Nefertiti and their six daughters living in the palace in peace, but outside, crowds of protesters come to the sun city, led by the priests. They break down the doors of the palace and kill Akhnaten and his family. In the final scenes, King Tutankhamun, or “King Tut,” as he is more commonly known, is crowned as the new pharaoh and the old religion is restored. The epilogue is a scene of a modern-day professor (a non-singing role) discussing Akhnaten and the contributions of ancient Egypt with his students.  

Akhnaten Ticket Prices

In 2019, Akhnaten played at the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center in New York City. Met Opera tickets for Akhnaten are likely to be more expensive in the orchestra section than in the balcony, unless they are balcony box seats. Akhnaten tickets range in price from around $50 to over $600 per seat depending upon the day and time of the performance, as well as proximity to the stage.

How much are Akhnaten tickets?

Opera goers who purchase tickets to Akhnaten for the Metropolitan Opera can expect that they will be pricey. Akhnaten ticket prices for a Wednesday night performance at the Met can start at around $30 each for family circle seats, located at the rear of the theater, while seats in the orchestra section can cost over $600.

Akhnaten Opera 2024 Dates & Show Schedule

The Metropolitan Opera performance schedule typically runs Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, with a matinee and evening performance on Saturdays. Curtain times and length of performances vary depending upon the opera being performed.