Glass has written such operas as Einstein on the Beach -- which returns to New York this week for an engagement at BAM -- Satyagraha, In the Penal Colony, Icarus and the Edge of Time, and The Voyage. In addition, he has written original music for the Public Theater's productions of The Bacchae, Woyzeck, Henry IV, Parts 1 & 2, and Cymbeline. He was also a founding member of Mabou Mines.

Additional recipients of the Praemium Imperiale arts awards include Cecco Bonanotte, Henning Larsen, Cai Guo-Qiang, and Yoko Morishita. In addition, The Sphinx Organization has been awarded the Grant for Young Artists.