In a bold collaboration, Burning River Baroque and the Blue Streak Ensemble united for Cycles of Creation and Annihilation, a thought-provoking program that merged stunning music with urgent environmental themes. Inspired by the fiery history of Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River, which burned over a dozen times before catalyzing sweeping environmental reform, this immersive performance series used music to ignite meaningful conversations about climate change and humanity’s impact on the planet. Performed in Cleveland, Youngstown, and Northeast Ohio, the program bridged centuries of music and thought. At its core was Margaret Brouwer’s Light, a rich tapestry of voices and instruments that explored creation, destruction, and renewal in both nature and the cosmos. The program also featured powerful selections from Bach and Telemann, a riveting piece on ethics by Kate Soper, and a new work by Malina Rauschenfels, a heartfelt promise to the Earth. With every note, Burning River Baroque and the Blue Streak Ensemble continue their mission: to harness the power of music as a force for reflection, dialogue, and lasting social change.