Paradise Lost, Voices Rising  presents two world premieres of composer-authored arrangements of evocative works from Ukraine and Taiwan, specially reworked for the  International Viola Congress 2026 .

The centerpiece of the program is Kitsch Music by the prominent Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov. Originally written for solo piano, this work is performed here for the first time in a new arrangement for viola and piano.

In five subtle, ethereal movements, Silvestrov’s signature “metamusic” unfolds – a transparent, post-Romantic soundscape that balances between nostalgia, irony, and introspection. With cues like trembling but tranquil, very soft and distant, and bright and translucent, the music paints a picture of hushed beauty – a moving evocation of cultural memory in uncertain times.

The Taiwanese Aboriginal Suite by Taiwanese composer Fu Tong Wong is a poetic work inspired by the musical traditions of Taiwan’s indigenous peoples. Originally written for solo piano, the suite gains a new sonic palette and an added lyrical dimension in this world premiere of the viola and piano version.

The four movements – Cradle, Proposal of Marriage, Farewell and Celebration – depict life rituals and moments of transition within the community, in music that is by turns rhythmic, lyrical and deeply narrative.

The concert will feature translations of contemporary poetry from Taiwan and Ukraine, accompanied by photographic images from both countries. This visual and literary layer creates a multisensory experience that transports the listener into the cultural context of the music—a dialogue between loss and rebirth, between silence and resilience.

Vio-Latino  is a multidisciplinary project that brings together poetry, visual art, and ten world premieres of works for viola and piano by leading composers of South American descent. The project was performed in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile in July and August 2024.

In this program,  Emlyn Stam  and  Sherry Grant bring  music, poetry, and image into dialogue. The ten featured composers and performing musicians all have a migration background: their work reflects both their South American roots and the many international influences that have shaped their musical language.  Vio-Latino  is a celebration of diversity, identity, and cultural exchange—a meeting of tradition and contemporary expression.

The performance is enriched with projections of contemporary South American poetry and artworks, carefully selected to resonate with the music both emotionally and materially. This creates a layered, multi-sensory experience in which sound, words, and images reinforce each other.

Diego Gravinese, Shalak Attack, Luisa Elena Betancourt, Brenda Rodriguez, Maximo Larua, Eqzequiel Briseno, Julieta Bussot, Beatriz Milhazes, Ricardo Fernández Olivares