On March 25, London’s Southbank Centre hosted a performance of Julia Wolfe’s "Fire in My Mouth," a commemorative musical work reflecting on the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City. The event marked the opening of the Southbank Centre’s 2026-27 season and drew connections between the factory disaster and the recent 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

"Fire in My Mouth" does not recount the historical event in a traditional narrative form. Instead, Wolfe’s nearly hour-long composition evokes the immigrant experience of the predominantly Italian and Jewish women who worked at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company and tragically lost their lives. The fire claimed 146 victims, many of whom were forced to leap from the burning building after some exits were locked, a fact that has echoed in the televised images of individuals jumping from the World Trade Center during 9/11.

Structured as a symphony in four movements, the piece is entirely choral, performed by a choir of 146 singers—a symbolic number corresponding to the victims. Texts sung throughout include eyewitness testimonies, folk songs, and protest chants drawn from the immigrant communities. The work concludes with a solemn recitation of the victims’ names, underscoring the human cost of the tragedy.

The performance incorporated elements that enhanced the immersive experience. Traditional Italian and Yiddish songs were woven into the score, reflecting the cultural backgrounds of the workers. On stage, young women dressed in period attire enacted the motions of factory labor, while projections of historical photographs from 1911 New York added a visual layer to the production.

Conductor Marin Alsop led the Philharmonia Orchestra and an assembly of choirs including London Voices, RSNO Youth Chorus, and Farnham Youth Choir, delivering a precise and compelling interpretation of Wolfe’s minimalist yet vivid score. The music suggests scenes such as the ocean voyages undertaken by immigrants, the rhythmic sound of sewing machines, and the overwhelming roar of the fire, creating an evocative atmosphere.

Critics noted that the piece shares artistic parallels with John Adams’s "On the Transmigration of Souls," a composition honoring 9/11 victims. Both works avoid overt sentimentality or sensationalism, instead encouraging reflection through thoughtful musical collage. "Fire in My Mouth" serves not only as a tribute to those lost in the Triangle fire but also as a meditation on immigrant resilience and collective memory.