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

Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons—four concertos for solo violin and strings—is beloved the world over. In their centerpiece celebration of the seasons, The Four Seasons: Antonio Vivaldi, Christopher Simpson & John Cage, the Folger Consort performed works by two other composers who were also captivated with the idea of a set of pieces based on the seasons. 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. The Folger Consort performed The Four Seasons from January 7 to January 8, 2011 at the Washington National Cathedral.

Artists

Folger Consort

Artistic Directors

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

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