[1] Einstein on the Beach (1976)
- An opera in four acts for ensemble, chorus and soloists in collaboration with American designer Robert Wilson.
- Libretto by Philip Glass based on texts by Christopher Knowles, Samuel M. Johnson and Lucinda Childs (in English).
- Notes by Philip Glass.
- First premiered by the Philip Glass Ensemble conducted by Michael Riesman at the Festival d'Avignon in Avignon (France) on July 25th, 1976.
[2] A Madrigal Opera (1980)
- A chamber opera in four parts for six voices (singing only solfeggio syllables), violin and viola in collaboration with Dutch designer Robert Malasch.
- Libretto unspecified. There have been different relizations, each one with a different title.
- Attaca: A Madrigal Opera, the original 1980 production written with Robert Malasch.
- The Panther, designed and directed by Manuel Luetgenhorst using Rilke's poem of the same name at La Mama in New York (USA) and at Houston Grand Opera in Houston (USA) in 1981.
- A Madrigal Opera, with libretto by Len Jenkins and directed by Bob Woodward at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles (USA) in 1985.
- The State of the Tibetan Nation: A Madrigal Opera, transcribed for electro-percussion, violin and viola featuring slides and text by Sonam Zoksang, Nancy Jo Johnson, Katie Murphy and Kathryn Culley. It was first performed at Tibetan Cultural Center in Bloomington (Indiana, USA) by Christina Fong and Glenn Freeman on November 8th
- Commissioned by the Holland Festival (The Netherlands).
- First premiered at Carré Theater at the Holland Festival in Amsterdan (The Netherlands) on June 25th, 1980.
[3] Satyagraha (1980)
- An opera in three acts for orchestra, chorus and soloists.
- Libretto by Philip Glass and Constance De Jong based on the Bhagavad Gita (in Sanskrit).
- Commissioned by the city of Rotterdam for the Netherlands Opera Company.
- First premiered by the Netherlands Opera and the Utrechts Symfonie Orkest, conducted by Christopher Keene at the Stadsschouwburg in Rotterdam (The Netherlands) on September 5th, 1980.
[4] The CIVIL warS: a tree is best measured when it is down. Act V - Rome Section (1983)
- An opera with prologue and three scenes for orchestra, chorus and soloists in collaboration with American designer Robert Wilson, as a part of his multi-composer epic for the Los Angeles Olympic Games of 1984.
- Libretto by Maita di Niscemi and Robert Wilson based on poems of Seneca and others (in Latin, Italian and English).
- Commissioned by the Opera di Roma (Italy).
- First premiered at the Opera di Roma conducted by Marcello Panni in Rome (Italy) on March 26th, 1984.
[4] Akhnaten (1984)
- An opera in three acts for orchestra, chorus and soloists.
- Libretto by Philip Glass (in Egyptian, Arcadian, Hebrew and language of audience) in association with Shalom Goldman, Robert Israel and Richard Riddell. Vocal text drawn from original sources by Shalom Goldman.
- Commissioned by the Württembergische Staatstheater, Stuttgart (Germany).
- First premiered at the Württembergische Staatstheater conducted by Dennis Russel Davies in Stuttgart (Germany) on March 24th, 1984.
[6] The Juniper Tree (1984)
- An opera in two acts for chamber orchestra, small chorus and soloists in collaboration with American composer Robert Moran.
- Libretto by Arthur Yorinks based on a tale by the Brothers Grimm (in English).
- Commissioned by the American Repertory Theatre, Cambridge (USA).
- First premiered at American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge (USA) on December 11th, 1985.
[7] The Making of the Representative for Planet 8 (1986)
- An opera in three acts for orchestra, small chorus and soloists.
- Libretto by Doris Lessing based on her novel of the same name (in English).
- Commissioned by the Houston Grand Opera (USA), the English National Opera (UK), Het Muziektheater (The Netherlands) and the Landestheater Kiel (Germany).
- First premiered at Houston Grand Opera in Houston (USA) on July 8th, 1988.
[8] The Fall of the House of Usher (1987)
- A chamber opera in two acts for ensemble and soloists.
- Libretto by Arthur Yorinks based on the tale of the same name by Edgar Allan Poe (in English).
- Commissioned by the American Repertory Theatre, Cambridge (USA) and the Kentucky Opera (USA).
- First premiered at the American Repertory Theatre conducted by Richard Pittman in Cambridge (USA) on May 18th, 1988.
[9] Hydrogen Jukebox (1990)
- A chamber opera for ensemble and soloists in collaboration with American poet Allen Ginsberg and American designer Jerome Sirlin.
- Libretto by Allen Ginsberg based on 21 of his poems (in English).
- Commissioned by the Spoleto Music Festival, Charleston (USA) and the American Music Theater Festival, Philadelphia (USA).
- First premiered (concert version) by the Philip Glass Ensemble conducted by Martin Goldray at the American Music Theater Festival in Philadelphia (USA) on April 29th, 1990.
- First premiered (staged version) by the Philip Glass Ensemble conducted by Martin Goldray at the Spoleto Music Festival in Charleston (USA) on May 26th, 1990.
[10] O Corvo Branco (White Raven) (1991)
- An opera in five acts for orchestra, chorus and soloists in collaboration with American designer Robert Wilson.
- Libretto by Portuguese writer Luísa Costa Gomes (in Portuguese and language of audience).
- Commissioned by the Comissão Nacional para a Comemoração dos Descobrimentos Portugueses for the World Expo '98 in Lisbon (Portugal) and Teatro Real in Madrid (Spain).
- First premiered by Orquesta Sinfónica Portuguesa and Coro do Teatro Nacional São Carlos conducted by Dennis Russel Davies at Teatro Camões at the World Expo´98 in Lisbon (Portugal) on September 26th, 1998.
[11] The Voyage (1992)
- An opera with prologue and epilogue in three acts for orchestra, chorus and soloists.
- Libretto by David Henry Hwang (in English) based on a story by Philip Glass.
- Commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera, New York (USA) in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Columbus at America.
- First premiered at the Metropolitan Opera conducted by Bruce Ferden in New York (USA) on October 12th, 1992.
[12] Orphée (1993)
- A chamber opera in two acts for ensemble and soloists.
- Libretto adapted by Philip Glass based on the film of the same name by Jean Cocteau (in French).
- Commissioned by the American Repertory Theatre, Cambridge (USA) and the Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York (USA).
- First premiered at the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge (USA) on May 14th, 1993.
[13] La Belle et la Bête (The Beauty and the Beast) (1994)
- An opera for ensemble and film.
- Libretto adapted by Philip Glass based on the film of the same name by Jean Cocteau (in French).
- First premiered by the Philip Glass Ensemble conducted by Michael Riesman at Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville (Spain) on June 4th, 1994.
[14] Les Enfants Terribles (Children of the Game) (1996)
- A dance opera in 27 scenes for ensemble (3 grand pianos or digital pianos), soloists and dancers in collaboration with American choreographer Susan Marshall.
- Libretto by Philip Glass based on the novel of the same name by Jean Cocteau (in French).
- Commissioned by Steps '96, MIGROS Switzerland - Cultural Commitment.
- First premiered by the Philip Glass Ensemble conducted by Karen Kamensek at Theatre Casino in Zug (Switzerland) on May 18th, 1996.
[15] The Marriages between Zones Three, Four and Five (1997)
- An opera in two acts, for orchestra, chorus and soloists.
- Libretto by Doris Lessing based on her novel of the same name, translated into German by Saskia M. Wesnigk.
- Commissioned by the State Government of Baden-Württemberg and the Cement Corporation of Heidelberg (Germany).
- First premiered at the Theater der Stadt conducted by Thomas Kalb in Heidelberg (Germany) on May 10th, 1997.
[16] Monsters of Grace (1998)
- A digital opera in three dimensions for ensemble and soloists in collaboration with American designer Robert Wilson.
- Staging formed by 13 three-dimensional computer animated scenes created by Kleiser-Walczak Construction Company and projected onto a large screen in the 70mm stereoscopic film format directed by Diana Walczak and Jeff Kleiser.
- Libretto based on 9 poems by the 13th century Persian poet Yalal al-Din Rumi translated and adapted to English by Coleman Barks.
- Co-commissioned by the UCLA Center for the Performing Arts, Los Angeles, California (USA); Barbican Centre, London (UK); Festival Castell de Peralada, Catalunya (Spain); Wolf Trap Foundation, Vienna, Virginia (USA); Het Muziektheater, Amsterdam (The Netherlands); Change Performing Arts/Festival sul Novecento, Palermo (Italy); The Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, New York (USA); The Society for the Performing Arts, Houston, TX (USA); Arizona State University Public Events, Tempe, Arizona (USA) and Portland Institute of Contemporary Art, Portland, OR (USA).
- First premiered by the Philip Glass Ensemble conducted by Michael Riesman at the UCLA Center for the Performing Arts at Royce Hall in Los Angeles (USA) on April 15th, 1998.