Funding himself by working in a Baltimore steel mill, the young Glass secures a place at Juilliard and begins his music studies in earnest. New York City in the late 1950s was a heady place, offering a range of creative opportunities. He soon found himself immersed in the city's vibrant contemporary art scene.

In this memoir, Philip Glass recalls his early mentors while reconstructing the places that helped shape his artistic consciousness.

Read by Kerry Shale

Abridger: Laurence Wareing
Producer: Kirsteen Cameron

Music details:
Track: "Metamorphosis One"
CD: Philip Glass: Solo Piano Music
Label: Sony

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2015. Show less