Rachel Barton Pine Stuns at Summermusik with Tuvan Throat-Singing, Silk Road Sounds
CINCINNATI — In a concert that blurred the lines between cultures, centuries, and continents, violinist Rachel Barton Pine brought the house to its feet Saturday night with a bold, globe-spanning program at Summermusik 2025 in Cincinnati’s Corbett Theater.
The concert, titled “Adventures on the Silk Road,” marked the live world premiere of composer Malek Jandali’s violin concerto, performed by Pine alongside the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, led by Music Director Eckart Preu. But what truly stole the show was the ensemble’s bold inclusion of Tuvan throat-singer SoRIAH, Middle Eastern instruments, and literary interludes.
A Musical Journey Across Cultures
The performance unfolded as a guided voyage along the ancient Silk Road, making symbolic stops in Venice, Jerusalem, Syria, Mongolia, and China. Pine’s commanding interpretation of Jandali’s violin concerto—previously recorded with the Vienna Radio Symphony—anchored the evening with emotional clarity, technical mastery, and Middle Eastern tonal colors.
The composer, who was in attendance with his family, dedicated the piece “to Rachel Barton Pine and to all women who thrive with courage,” blending the ornamentation of Arabic maqams with Western orchestral form. Instruments like the oud and marimba added texture, while Pine’s cadenza alternated between serene minimalism and thunderous intensity.
SoRIAH’s Surreal Throat-Singing Stuns Crowd
Just as captivating was SoRIAH (Enrique Ugalde), a rare Western master of Tuvan “khöömei” throat-singing, who performed his own composition, The Realm of Tengri & the Chedi Khan.
Wearing a dramatic costume that included a black hat, shawl, and a metal breastplate, SoRIAH accompanied himself on the igil (a two-stringed Tuvan instrument) while layering three simultaneous vocal tones through overtone singing—evoking wind, thunder, and distant plains.
In one unforgettable moment, he mirrored the orchestra’s final melody entirely in overtones, eliciting audible gasps from the audience. A short demonstration earlier in the evening revealed how the overtone effect is created—a technique SoRIAH has taught in workshops since the late 1990s.
Beyond Gimmickry: A Festival with Heart
Though it could’ve leaned into novelty, the event’s staging felt anything but gimmicky. Actor Jared Joplin read words from Marco Polo between movements, while maps, photos, and even Asian tea samples in the lobby created a cohesive, sensory-rich experience.
Summermusik, now in its 50th season, offers an ambitious calendar through August 24. Upcoming events include performances by the Kronos Quartet, a speakeasy-themed show, and a “Let’s Dance” concert with live instruction and audience participation.
From Pine to Percussion: Every Piece Had Its Moment
Other standout performances included Chen Yi’s “YangKo”—a Chinese folk-dance piece that saw Pine playing rollercoaster-like trills over whispery vocals by the orchestra—and a movement from Ahmet Adnan Saygun’s Symphony No. 1, marked by swirling, asymmetric rhythms.
Even Pine’s encore, “Rounds” by Mohammed Fairouz, felt like a thoughtful coda to an already boundary-breaking evening.
As one attendee put it:
“There was something interesting about every single piece on that program!”
Have you ever seen a concert with Tuvan throat-singing or Middle Eastern instruments in a classical setting? Tell us how global music has expanded your perspective — and explore more musical moments at chicagomusicguide.com.