A remounting of composer Philip Glass and director Robert Wilson’s groundbreaking and rarely performed “Einstein on the Beach: An Opera in Four Acts”—which will be performed in Ann Arbor, courtesy of the University Musical Society—has been a topic of serious (and hopeful) discussion for 10 years.

But as recently as a few years ago, when incoming New York City Opera artistic director Gerard Mortier resigned (because the poor economy resulted in him having a fraction of the season budget he’d originally been promised), UMS production/programming director Michael Kondziolka thought the “Einstein” revival wouldn’t happen.

“It’s a very large undertaking that requires a lot of people coming to the table and a lot of pooling of resources,” said Kondziolka. “ … I vividly remember happening to be at the Metropolitan Opera in November 2008. … It was the day (Mortier) decided not to come to the U.S., and he’d been a linchpin for the whole thing. So I remember turning to someone at intermission and saying, ‘Well, “Einstein” will never happen now.’ But I’m glad I was wrong.”

One of the primary pieces of the “Einstein” puzzle involved UMS’ proposal to have everyone involved in the new production—including Glass, Wilson, and choreographer Lucinda Childs, all of whom are now in their 70s—come to Ann Arbor for an intensive, three-week-long rehearsal period, while UMS took care of the expenses.

One benefit of this is that the artists will be able to engage with the university and the community more significantly while they’re in the area; but it also means the artists will be supported as they work to stage a show that’s only been mounted three times (‘76, ’84 and ’92), and that, outside of New York City, hasn’t before been seen in North America.

“It’s such an iconic work on so many different levels that we wanted to make sure we were helpful in bringing it to the stage for what may be the last time,” said Kondziolka. “The occasion forced all of us to ask the question, ‘Is realizing this piece on a stage dependent upon the original creators being there to do it? Is there a “text” that would allow people to resurrect the work?’”

The question arises because the five-hour, intermissionless work—which invites audience members to wander in and out at liberty—doesn’t tell a linear narrative, but rather uses a series of recurrent images in juxtaposition with abstract dance sequences; and Glass composed “Einstein” for sythesizers, woodwinds, and the voices of the Philip Glass Ensemble, collaborating closely with Wilson as the piece originally came together.

“The work looms so largely in each of their creative lives,” said Kondziolka. “Philip Glass and Robert Wilson would not be the artists they became if not for ‘Einstein.’” It catapulted both of them to center stage, because it was a new way to think about music and theater and opera, and it impacted how they thought about their work moving forward.”

“Einstein” also, according to Kondziolka, put a spotlight on avant-garde artists who were working in New York City.

“This piece signaled an extraordinary moment when this whole avant garde, experimental aesthetic community was given a platform in a major temple—an uptown temple,” said Kondziolka. “ … It signaled this moment where everyone said, ‘Huh, we’ve got this aesthetic universe here in our own city that we don’t even recognize.’ And it made everyone sit up and take notice.”

The Ann Arbor performances of “Einstein” will kick off the show’s international tour; and due to minor structural constraint, they are officially considered previews—a compromise that arose from yet another kink during the planning stage.

“(There’s a stage image) that will still be part of the piece in Ann Arbor, but it can’t be realized in exactly the way they want it to be,” said Kondziolka.

The glitch led to a discussion as to whether “Einstein” should ultimately be teched in Ann Arbor or in France, but in the end, Kondziolka and UMS won out. What had Kondziolka’s strategy been?

“I pulled on the old heartstrings,” he said.

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.

Watch a UMS video with interviews with the "Einstein on the Beach" creators: