Work of the Week – Vijay Iyer: Human Archipelago

With 1 October 2022 comes the world premiere of Vijay Iyer’s exciting new concerto for cello and orchestra. Human Archipelago will be performed at London’s Royal Festival Hall by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Inbal Segev, under the baton of Edward Gardner.

HUMAN ARCHIPELAGO BY VIJAY IYER RAISES QUESTIONS: WHAT IS OUR PLACE ON EARTH AND WHO ARE WE? 

Human Archipelago draws its inspiration from the 2019 book of the same name by author Teju Cole and photographer Fazal Shaikh, which addresses two urgent, entangled global phenomena: climate change and mass migration. Through its series of loving portraits and mini-essays, we are led to reconsider our ethical responsibilities to our fellow human beings in the present and future.  

We are led to rethink our very notion of “us.” - Vijay Iyer

The US premiere of Human Archipelago will take place on 13 January 2023 at Salem, OR. Segev will perform the piece alongside the Oregon Symphony under Marin Alsop. Three more performances are following from 14 to 16 January at Portland, OR. 

INFO BOX:

• VIJAY IYER - COMPOSER PROFILE
• INFORMATION + SCORE
• LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
• SCHOTT JOURNAL - "RESTORE OUR EARTH"

Photo: Thomas Jastram / Adobe