On January 25, 2009 Emory President James Wagner presented composer Philip Glass with one of Emory’s highest honors, the President's Medal, conferred on individuals whose impact on the world has enhanced the dominion of peace or has enlarged the range of cultural achievement. In Glass’ citation, Dr. Wagner praised the composer for "demonstrating in each succeeding measure of [his] career the limitless creative range of the human spirit."

The presentation took place at the close of a discussion with Glass and Emory Professor of Hebrew and Middle Eastern Studies, Shalom Goldman, who wrote the libretto working with ancient texts. The pair talked about their work on the opera Akhnaten after three years of working together.

The Museum approached the The Atlanta Opera about staging Akhnaten in conjunction with the exhibition Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs, and worked with the staff of Emory's Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts to make the production part of the Flora Glenn Candler Concert Series.

“Producing Philip Glass’ Akhnaten in collaboration with the Michael C. Carlos Museum and Emory’s Schwartz Center was a milestone event for The Atlanta Opera,” said Dennis Hanthorn, Zurich General Director of the Atlanta Opera. “It allowed us the opportunity to not only produce a contemporary opera but also to cultivate new audiences. The three-way collaboration was indeed a success in our minds and we look forward to the possibility of future partnerships.” The performances of the opera were dedicated to the memory of Karina Lichirie Miller, who, along with her husband James B. Miller, has been a generous supporter of the Carlos Museum and the Atlanta Opera.

Glass spent two days at Emory discussing and attending the opera, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. He also introduced a screening of Martin Scorsese's film, Kundun, which traces the life of the 14th Dalai Lama, focusing on the influence of Tibetan music and Buddhism on his score for the film and other work, and discussed his collaborative work with artists such as Alan Ginsburg, Sol LeWitt, Twyla Tharp, and others.

Podcast of conversation between Philip Glass and Shalom Goldman about Akhnaten