Immerse yourself in three of Bach’s beloved cello suites, performed in the Freer’s resonant Japanese screens gallery with new overtures by Philip Glass, Grammy-nominated jazz pianist Vijay Iyer, and Du Yun, winner of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for music. The New York Times called Matt Haimovitz a “ferociously talented cellist who brings his megawatt sound and uncommon expressive gifts to a vast variety of styles.”
At 12 pm, Haimovitz performs Bach’s cello suite BWV 1007 with an overture by minimalist musical pioneer Philip Glass, who has long been influenced by Asian art and culture. At 2 pm, he performs Du Yun’s overture prior to the suite BWV 1008. Introducing the third suite, BWV 1009, at 4 pm is a new prelude by Vijay Iyer, who was named Downbeat magazine’s pianist of the year from 2012–14 and is now on the faculty at Harvard University.
Seating for each performance is first come, first served. Visitors also can enjoy the music while looking at art in the nearby galleries. These performances comprise the opening event of the twenty-fifth season of the Bill and Mary Meyer Concert Series.