Confined in Everyday Scenes

At the heart of this concert is the world premiere of Confined in Everyday Scenes, a new suite for solo cello and fixed electronics by composer Frank Horvat, commissioned by acclaimed cellist Joann Whang. This powerful work invites audiences into a profound musical journey that exposes the uneasy coexistence of the ordinary and the unseen—where familiar, everyday moments can conceal hidden realities of modern-day slavery and exploitation.
Horvat and Whang began imagining this collaboration in 2021, grounded in a shared desire to create music that bears witness and sparks conversation. Inspired by Laura T. Murphy’s book Survivors of Slavery: Modern-Day Slave Narratives, the project broadened into a deeper exploration of contemporary slavery worldwide. With Murphy’s guidance, and through ongoing conversations with NGOs working on the front lines to help people leave lives of enslavement, this premiere aims to amplify survivor voices and illuminate what too often goes unrecognized.
Surrounding the premiere are additional works by contemporary composers championed by Whang. Together, these pieces offer a space to listen deeply—and to see more clearly.