The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society presented their third Musicians From Marlboro Presentation on April 30, 2025 in a livestream presentation. A special feature of this program was a work by Marlboro Composer in Residence 2023, Helmut Lachenmann, called “Got Lost.”

Helmut Lachenmann, born 1935, has had his work called “Brilliant, Beautiful, and Bright,” and one of the world’s finest living composers.

Lucy Fitz Gibbon, Soprano, worked closely under the direction of the composer. She had an astonishing interview at intermission where she spoke in the most glowing terms of the honor she felt at being his vessel. Sahun Sam Hong collaborated on piano. Both artists felt that working with Helmut Lachenmann was a rare and special privilege.  

“Got Lost” had an esoteric vocabulary of expression for the soprano which included prolonged cheek slapping, tongue popping, gasping, squeaking, soup slurping, nonsense words sung in German, expert vocalise, and physically turning about many times with her head in the piano casing, playing with acoustic dynamics. The pianist only occasionally played the keys of the piano, while manipulating the keys, wires, and interior of the piano, extracting unusual and graphic sounds that accompanied or were in disharmony with the soprano. He also made rare sounds with his cheeks or mouth, while plucking piano wires. On occasion, Mr. Hong savagely attacked the piano to elicit hammer-like sounds when hitting the piano keys. Some audience members undoubtedly called to mind the musical landscape of Spike Jones, the whimsy of Victor Borge, works by Pierre Boulez, or prepared piano excursions by John Cage.

Listening to these talented young artists, the audience was left speechless. They could only applaud the diligence, hard work, and expert timing involved in bringing this composition to life. 

Claire Bourg and Leonard Fu, violins, Cara Pogossian, viola, and Marie Bitlloch, cello,  beautifully performed works by Mozart and Haydn, rounding out a truly memorable program at the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia. 

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