The Rotunda Becomes a 'Sculpture of Sound'

On Saturday, April 11, the iconic rotunda of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York will be transformed into a living sculpture of breath and sound. The acclaimed vocal ensemble Khorikos takes the stage as part of Carnegie Hall's fourth season of Well-Being Concerts, performing amid Carol Bove's monumental installation that currently fills the rotunda.

A Concert Built on Breath

Breath is the central theme of this immersive performance. The program includes choral works by Arvo Pärt and John Tavener, alongside bold contemporary pieces by Thomas Adès, Anna Meredith, Shara Nova, and Kile Smith. The concert also features the world premiere of "Continuing," a poem by Denise Levertov set to music by saxophonist Charlotte Greve.

Rather than traditional seating, audience members are invited to sit on mats, cushions, and chairs placed in the center of the rotunda, or to stand along the lower ramps—allowing them to physically experience how the choir's sound shifts as performers move through the space.

Khorikos Artistic Director Alec Galambos explained that "the entire performance set is modeled after the physical sensation of a long, deep breath," with the music beginning energetically before gradually slowing, "resembling an inhale and an exhale." The concert will also feature a single sustained tone held for approximately six minutes using a technique called "stagger breathing," in which each singer breathes individually while the group collectively sustains the sound.

Art Spaces as Wellbeing Stages

Manuel Bagorro, Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute Creative Advisor, noted that at the Guggenheim, "where space itself plays such a powerful role in shaping perception, that invitation becomes even more immediate." He added that the experience is designed to extend beyond the concert itself—"a sense of calm, focus, or connection—you can carry that with you."

With Carol Bove's exhibition envisioned as a space for rest and contemplation, this event stands as a compelling example of visual and performing arts converging organically within a shared space.

Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026 Venue: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York Hours: Daily, 10:30 am – 5:30 pm