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How did Philip Glass use unusual subjects and ancient languages in his operas?

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Members of the Dnepropetrovsk State Opera and Ballet Theatre perform Il Trovatore, with a woman in tattered costume singing dramatically at center stage and other actors in period dress. — opera Performance of Giuseppe Verdi's *Il trovatore*, 2011.

Philip Glass is renowned for his innovative approach to opera, often utilizing unconventional subjects and ancient languages to create powerful, meditative experiences.

His use of these elements is most notable in his "portrait trilogy," a series of works that explore the lives of historical figures through a unique lens:

Unconventional Subjects: Glass focused on figures who shaped history through philosophical or scientific contributions rather than traditional operatic narratives. Einstein on the Beach (1976) centers on the life of Albert Einstein, while Satyagraha (1980) portrays incidents from the early life of Mohandas K. Gandhi. Additionally, his opera Akhnaten (1984) explores the life of the Egyptian pharaoh.
Ancient Languages: Glass often incorporated ancient languages to enhance the spiritual and historical gravity of his works. For instance, the libretto for Satyagraha is adapted from the Hindu scripture the Bhagavadgita and is sung in Sanskrit. Similarly, Akhnaten features a libretto sung in several ancient languages, reinforcing the work's connection to its historical setting.12