The Crossing Gives World Premiere Performances of Julia Wolfe's FIRE IN MY MOUTH in New York Philharmonic Debut

Winner of the 2018 Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance, The Crossing makes its New York Philharmonic debut in world premiere performances of Julia Wolfe's Fire in my mouth on Thursday, January 24, 2019 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, January 25, 2019 at 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 8:00 p.m. at David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center.

Led by New York Philharmonic Music Director Jaap van Zweden, Julia Wolfe's immersive Fire in my mouth - featuring video, theatrical lighting, and nearly 150 women vocalists - explores the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in New York City which killed 146 garment workers, most of them young, female immigrants. The tragic decisions that led to the devastation instigated protests that led to changes in labor laws. Thirty-six women of The Crossing and conductor Donald Nallywill be joined by 110 women of the Young People's Chorus of New York City, led by director Francisco J. Núñez. Fire in my mouth features video and scenic design by Jeff Sugg and is directed by Anne Kauffman.

Of the piece, Julia Wolfe says, "I had been thinking about immigrant women in the workforce at the turn of the century. They fled their homelands to escape poverty and persecution. The garment workers arrived to these shores with sewing skills. Many of the women wound up working on these huge factory floors-hundreds of women sitting at sewing machines. Fire in my mouth tells the story of these women who persevered and endured challenging conditions, women who led the fight for reform in the workplace. I am thrilled to work with Jaap van Zweden and the huge incredible force of the New York Philharmonic to bring Fire in my mouth to life."

The performances are part of New York Stories: Threads of Our City, the New York Philharmonic's exploration of musical expressions of the immigrant experience, and will be paired with Steven Stucky's Elegy from August 4, 1964 and Copland's Clarinet Concerto featuring New York Philharmonic Principal Clarinet Anthony McGill.

Tickets: $33-120 at nyphil.org or by calling (212) 875-5656.
Link: https://nyphil.org/concerts-tickets/1819/fire-in-my-mouth