Frederic Rzewski: The People United Will Never Be Defeated!

DOCUMENTA 14

Co-production:
documenta 14
Megaron – The Athens Concert Hall

The People United Will Never Be Defeated! (1975) is a set of 36 variations on the Chilean song ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! by Sergio Ortega and Quilapayún (1973). The song is one of many written between 1969 and 1973, shortly before the overthrow of the Salvador Allende government. Rzewski composed the variations in 1975 as a tribute to the struggle of the Chilean people against a newly imposed repressive regime. The American composer opens the concert with a performance of two pieces by Cornelius Cardew.

– Cornelius Cardew: Thälmann Variations & We sing for the future!
 – Frederic Rzewski: The People United Will Never Be Defeated!

Frederic Rzewski piano