Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s equity, diversity and inclusion initiative continues with a Midwest premiere through New Music USA’s Amplifying Voices program Feb. 25 at Trinity Christian College’s Ozinga Chapel in Palos Heights.
Billed as fostering collaboration toward racial and gender equity in new orchestral music, Amplifying Voices worked with Vijay Iyer for performances of “Human Archipelago” in October 2022 in London (world premiere) and January in Oregon (U.S. premiere) and Idaho (Mountain time Zone premiere).
“It’s a unique piece in that the composer is a jazz pianist so big parts of it are improvisatory,” said Inbal Segev, featured cellist for “Human Archipelago” with London Philharmonic Orchestra, Oregon Symphony and Boise Phil.
“A group of players with absolute pitch or very good ears follow each other, taking turns leading the pack like a flock of birds in the sky. He calls it flocking, which is fun. I join the group of players to also improvise with them. That’s a unique technique for a concerto.
“I’ve never played a concerto where I had to improvise. There’s other things that are cool about the piece. It goes from African rhythms to jazz but it’s basically a classical piece. Vijay is a wonderful composer. He is brilliant and I’m excited to come and play with the Illinois Philharmonic.”
Iyer and Michael Lewanski, associate professor at the DePaul University School of Music, give a free preconcert talk prior to Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s Iyer & Sibelius on Feb. 25 at Trinity Christian College’s Ozinga Chapel in Palos Heights.
Conducted by Stilian Kirov, the concert includes the world premiere of Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2022-23 composer-in-residence Jonathan Cziner’s “Rear-view,” the Midwest premiere of “Human Archipelago” featuring Segev on cello and Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2.
“Sibelius is revered by composers. He was a groundbreaking composer although we tend to think of him as old-fashioned and romantic,” said Segev, a native of Israel who now lives in New York City.
“Vijay’s concerto also has a big orchestra and lush orchestration but in a very different style so in a way they really connect together.”
Segev, who began playing cello at 5 years old, noted that the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra performance is like a homecoming because she bought both of her instruments at Chicago’s Carl Becker & Son.
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As of press time, she had not decided if she would perform “Human Archipelago” in the Southland on her 1673 cello made by Francesco Ruggieri in Italy or her 1958 cello crafted by Carl Becker & Son.
“Every time you play with a different orchestra, you hear it differently. The players, the acoustics, the audience — of course everything comes together,” said Segev, who offers the master class series “Musings with Inbal Segev” on her YouTube channel.
“I like moving people. I enjoy knowing that people were transported. To hear that from audience members, not only after the performances but sometimes I can really feel that during my performances, (is) extremely rewarding.”
Segev, who co-commissioned “Human Archipelago,” also collaborated with Iyer who composed “The Window” and performs piano on the piece on her “20 for 2020 Volume II,” which was released digitally in 2021.
A two-CD “20 for 2020? released in November 2022 features all four volumes plus a bonus track.
Iyer & Sibelius
When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25
Where: Trinity Christian College’s Ozinga Chapel, 6601 W. College Drive, Palos Heights
Tickets: $10-$64
Information: 708-481-7774; ipomusic.org
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.