The Four Seasons: Antonio Vivaldi, Christopher Simpson & John Cage (2011)

This is the approved revision of this page, as well as being the most recent.

In their centerpiece celebration of the season, The Four Seasons: Antonio Vivaldi, Christopher Simpson & John Cage, Folger Consort performed works by two other composers who were also captivated with the idea of a set of pieces based on the seasons from January 7 to January 8, 2011 at the Washington National Cathedral. Christopher Simpson’s virtuosic set from 17th-century England for violin and two viols is a high point in the literature for viol in the same way that Vivaldi’s concertos are for the violin. Along with Simpson, the music of 20th-century American composer John Cage was heard in a new arrangement of his atmospheric ballet The Seasons for baroque instruments and percussion.

Detail of Caspar David Friedrich's Hill and Ploughed Field near Dresden (c. 1824).












Artists

Folger Consort

Artistic Directors

  • Robert Eisenstein: viol, violin
  • Christopher Kendall: theorbo, conductor

Guest artists: orchestra

  • Julie Andrijeski: violin
  • Risa Browder: violin
  • Wade Davis: cello
  • Michael De Sapio: violin
  • Nina Falk: viola
  • Joseph Gascho: harpsichord, organ
  • Marta Howard: viola
  • June Huang: violin
  • John Kilkenny: percussion
  • Mark Kuss: synthesizer
  • Caroline Levy: violin
  • Anthony J. Marini: viola
  • John Moran: cello
  • J. Tracy Mortimore: violone
  • Leslie Nero: violin
  • Brent Wissick: cello, viol