Cellist Kristina Reiko Cooper to Give World Premiere of INNER FIRE at BMOP

Cellist Kristina Reiko Cooper will perform the world premiere of Inner Fire, a new five-movement cello concerto by noted Israeli composer Avner Dorman, with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project. Led by Conductor and Artistic Director Gil Rose, the concert, entitled Premiere, takes place at New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall Sunday evening, June 21, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.

As BMOP's 2025/26 season finale, the evening will include two world premieres and two New England premieres. Dedicated to Ms. Cooper, Inner Fire traces fire's physical and symbolic states. The piece moves from the initial spark of "Invocation" through the intensity of "Ignition" and "Wildfire," into the reflective calm of "Hearth." The final movement draws on Tummo meditation, using breath and focus as a model for rising inner heat and transformation. "I have written pieces that respond directly to recent events," says Mr. Dorman. "Inner Fire is something different - a step back toward what is timeless. And yet I would be less than honest if I said the world we have been living through didn't shape it. The search for inner stillness and transformation feels more urgent now than when Kristina and I first began talking about this music. I think that urgency is in every note."

The full program follows:

Paul Moravec Miami Variations (2025)** with Tessa Lark, violin
Avner Dorman Inner Fire (2025)* with Kristina Cooper, cello
John Aylward History of the World (2025)*
Bernard Rogers Symphony No. 5 "Africa" (1959)**

*World Premiere
** New England Premiere

The concert is free, but donations are welcome to help with BMOP's mission. For more information, please visit BMOP's event page and cellist Kristina Reiko Cooper's website.

Cellist Kristina Reiko Cooper has performed internationally with a wide range of ensembles in both standard and contemporary repertoire. Ms. Cooper's most recent recording, Hidden Legacies - Weinberg & Korngold, featuring four-time GRAMMY-nominated conductor Constantine Orbelian and the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra, was released on the Delos label in March 2026.