Saariaho, Riley & Bach

Discover a bold reimagining of flute performance as pioneering musician Claire Chase stretches the limits of this ancient instrument in a chamber concert that fuses classical tradition with cutting-edge electroacoustic innovation. Featuring works from her ambitious, multi-decade Density 2036 commissioning project, this program redefines 21st-century flute literature through an adventurous blend of sound, style and technology.

Saariaho, Riley & Bach takes place on Sunday, January 25 at the New World Center on Miami Beach, part of the New World Symphony’s 2025–2026 Season. The performance features Claire Chase, hailed by The Wall Street Journal as “a rare combination of grace and guts,” joined by the talented New World Symphony Fellows in a genre-spanning evening of music.

The eclectic program showcases Chase’s extraordinary versatility with six striking works: Guillaume de Machaut/Marcos Balter’s Ballades for three flutes, Kaija Saariaho’s Terrestre, Terry Riley’s The Holy Liftoff for flute, string quartet, and electronics, J.S. Bach’s Triple Concerto in A minor (BWV 1044) for flute, violin and harpsichord, Marcos Balter’s Pan for solo flute and live electronics, and Riley’s Pulsefield. Each piece reflects the spirit of exploration and collaboration at the heart of Density 2036.

A MacArthur Fellow and the first flutist to earn the prestigious Avery Fisher Prize, Chase has premiered hundreds of new works and performed with major orchestras around the world. Her visionary Density 2036 project, launched in 2014, is transforming the future of flute music through innovative commissions, performances and educational outreach that inspires the next generation of artists.