Amanda Gorman, Presidential Inaugural Poet and cellist Jan Vogler join forces to offer, as they describe, “Hope and humanity being expressed through two different genres.” The Duo pairs Bach’s first, third, and fifth cello suites from Bach’s solo cello suites as a dialogue with recitations of Gorman’s poetry. The clarity and rhythmic intensity of Gorman’s diction correlate directly with Vogler’s sense of articulation in the Bach.

This inspirational evening of spoken word poetry and classical music took place on 17 February 2024 at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium/Ronald Perelman Stage.

The Los Angeles-born and -raised Gorman is most known for being the youngest-ever inaugural poet in U.S. history, having performed at the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in 2021. The East Berlin-born Vogler was a child prodigy and is an award-winning musician and composer who also shattered records as the youngest player in the history of the Staatskapelle Dresden orchestra. "Poetry, there's this in between the words, and with music, it's the same — in between the notes, actually, the real message happens," says Vogler, who’s instrument is a Stradivari ‘ex Castelbereo / Fau’ 1707 cello.

Johann Sebastian Bach
Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major
Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor
Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major

Amanda Gorman
An Ode We Owe
Fugue
A Day’s Lyric
What We Carry
The Hill We Climb

Amanda Gorman, poet
Jan Vogler, cello