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Glass's most accomplished work to date. Success, however, has brought new challenges. Glass is that rarity, a composer who makes his living composing and performing, not teaching. His facility has never been in question, but since he has transformed the minimalist style from an end into a means, his task now is to maintain both quality and a sense of artistic progress. If such considerations trouble him, it is not apparent. He goes energetically about his work with the rude optimism of a creative artist in full bloom.
"Historically, innovations in music have taken place in the theater, and I intend to concentrate there," he says. "If I ask myself what I would do if I were 20 years old, I'd probably do just what I'm doing now. Which means I'm not about to sit back and wait for someone else to make the next musical leap. I think I'm just getting going. My best scores are the ones to come." If that is true, then the musical world is in for more invigorating shocks of the new from today's most innovative composer.