‘Fire in my Mouth - Julia Wolfe’

On March 25, 1911, a fire broke out on the eighth floor of the Triangle Shirtwaist garment factory in New York. The workers—mostly Jewish and Italian immigrant women and girls, aged 14 to 23—were unable to escape the flames: the factory doors had been locked to prevent them from taking unscheduled breaks.

In this powerful and emotional oratorio, Julia Wolfe gives a voice to the 146 victims of the fire. Drawing from traditional Yiddish and Italian melodies, as well as firsthand survivor testimonies, Fire in my mouth reclaims this historic tragedy as an act of remembrance. Wolfe’s minimalist style blends raw emotion with a stark evocation of the factory and the fire, creating a haunting and unforgettable experience.