The third installment of the popular Music/Words LA at the Wende once again brings together music and poetry. Curated by pianist Inna Faliks, this performance features violinist Varty Manouelian, cellist Ben Hong, and poet Michelle Bitting in a live exchange between sound and language.

This program centers on works by Valentin Silvestrov and Dmitri Shostakovich. Both composers worked under the pressures of Soviet cultural control, developing musical languages that move between lyricism and unease. Performance of these compositions will unfold alongside readings by Bitting, creating a dialogue that shifts between voice and instrument, text and tone.

Originally founded by Faliks in New York, Music/Words has evolved into a platform for artists working at the intersection of music and text. This Los Angeles residency at the Wende builds each program around close listening, live collaboration, and the changing balance between composition and language.

Inna Faliks is Head of Piano and Professor of Piano at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and author of Weight in the Fingertips: A Musical Odyssey from Soviet Ukraine to the World Stage.

Varty Manouelian is a violinist and educator. He is a Lecturer of Violin at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, teaches violin and chamber music at the Colburn Academy and the Crowden School Preparatory Academy, and coaches chamber music at the Apple Hill Festival in New Hampshire.

Ben Hong is a cellist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, where he has performed for over 30 years. He is active as a chamber musician and educator, with regular appearances at Walt Disney Concert Hall and collaborations across Southern California.

Michelle Bitting is a poet and essayist whose collections include Notes to the Beloved and Broken Kingdom. Her work appears widely in literary journals, and her readings emphasize the sonic and performative dimensions of language.

Special thanks to Yamaha Artist Services.

As this event takes place during museum open hours, guests may check in at the front of the museum. The garden side gate will open 30 minutes before the start time and is available for ADA access and check-in. Theater doors open 15 minutes before the start time. Seating is first come, first served. An RSVP does not guarantee admission once capacity is reached. No late entry.