Julia Wolfe’s oratorio Fire in my mouth gives voice to the 146 people who perished in a garment factory fire, in a deeply moving commemorative concert.
On March 25, 1911, a fire broke out on the eighth floor of the Triangle Shirtwaist garment factory in New York. The workers—mostly Jewish and Italian immigrant women and girls, aged 14 to 23—were unable to escape the flames: the factory doors had been locked to prevent them from taking unscheduled breaks.
In this powerful and...
On March 25, 1911, a fire broke out on the eighth floor of the Triangle Shirtwaist garment factory in New York. The workers—mostly Jewish and Italian immigrant women and girls, aged 14 to 23—were unable to escape the flames: the factory doors had been locked to prevent them from taking unscheduled breaks.
In this powerful and emotional oratorio, Julia Wolfe gives a voice to the 146 victims of the fire. Drawing from traditional Yiddish and Italian melodies, as well as firsthand survivor testimonies, Fire In My Mouth reclaims this historic tragedy as an act of remembrance. Wolfe’s minimalist style blends raw emotion with a stark evocation of the factory and the fire, creating a haunting and unforgettable experience.
This concert is part of the portrait dedicated to Julia Wolfe organized by Bozar. More info here.
Thanks to the players of the National Lottery and to the Tax Shelter of the Federal Government of Belgium through Casa Kafka Pictures.
Tickets
Concert with introduction
Meet composer Julia Wolfe in person at 7 pm! If you have bought a ticket for the concert, you will receive a link by email to register free of charge for the talk. Registration is required as places are limited.
Programme
-
Anna Clyne
Within her arms -
Jessie Montgomery
Coincident Dances -
Julia Wolfe
Fire In My Mouth (Belgian premiere) -
Artists
- Gemma New Conductor
- Vlaams Radiokoor Choir
- Children’s and Youth Choirs of La Monnaie
- Anne Kauffman Set design
- Jeff Sugg Light design, Set concept, video
- Mark Grey Sound design
- Márion Talán Costumes
- Kenny Savelson Project manager
Concert with introduction
Meet composer Julia Wolfe in person at 7 pm! If you have bought a ticket for the concert, you will receive a link by email to register free of charge for the talk. Registration is required as places are limited.
With the support of
Discover more
Fire in my Mouth: Julia Wolfe makes sparks fly
Monumental, poignant and bittersweet. Fire in my Mouth by the American composer Julia Wolfe has the potential to become one of this year’s must-see productions. Bozar has teamed up with the Belgian National Orchestra, La Monnaie and the Vlaams Radio Koor to bring this emotional oratorio by our portrait artist to life.
Julia Wolfe: Turning a hand clap into an orchestral explosion
American composer Julia Wolfe forges the rhythmic drive of rock, the directness of folk, and minimalist patterns into a distinctive, idiosyncratic whole. Her works draw inspiration from the folk history of her homeland and are rooted in theater. In 2015, she won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Anthracite Fields. This season, Bozar spotlights her as portrait artist. Her music can be heard in more than seven concerts, including three with the BNO. Our colleagues at Bozar have already posed her a few questions.
