Thursday matinee concerts are endowed by a gift in memory of Rhoda Goldman.
Preconcert talks are supported in memory of Horacio Rodriguez.
Great Performers Series
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons
November 20, 21 & 22, 2025
Overview
Violinist Alexi Kenney returns to play and direct a compelling selection of Baroque and contemporary gems spanning several centuries. Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons lays out a sequence of scenes, all shaped by elemental forces: wind, rain, sunshine, and snow. Vivaldi creates an immersive sound-world complete with calling birds, murmuring streams, rustling leaves, barking dogs, lurching peasants, rolling thunder, chattering teeth. Any composer can simulate natural sounds and noises; Vivaldi makes us feel them. Rich in tunes and tonal contrasts, Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos blend the sparkling refinement of the French suite and the lusty vigor of the Italian concerto grosso with the contrapuntal grandeur of German organ music. Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 features a dazzling dance between three virtuoso soloists—on flute, violin, and keyboard—and orchestra.Concert Extras
Thursday Matinee: A postconcert conversation with Alexi Kenney, hosted by Benjamin Pesetsky, will be presented onstage immediately following the performance. Free to all ticketholders.
Friday and Saturday: A preconcert conversation with Alexi Kenney, hosted by Benjamin Pesetsky, will be presented onstage at 6:30pm. Free to all ticketholders.
Friday and Saturday: A preconcert conversation with Alexi Kenney, hosted by Benjamin Pesetsky, will be presented onstage at 6:30pm. Free to all ticketholders.
Artists
Alexi Kenney
Violin and Leader
Flute
Jonathan Dimmock
Harpsichord
San Francisco Symphony
Program
Olli
Mustonen
Nonet No. 2 for String Orchestra
First SF Symphony Performances
Barbara
Strozzi
(arr. Kenney)
“Mercè di voi, mia fortunata stella,” from Il primo libro de madrigali, Opus 1
“Mercè di voi, mia fortunata stella,” from Il primo libro de madrigali, Opus 1
First SF Symphony Performances
Johann Sebastian
Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050
Antonio
Vivaldi
The Four Seasons
Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor of The Great Performers Series
Thursday matinee concerts are endowed by a gift in memory of Rhoda Goldman.
Preconcert talks are supported in memory of Horacio Rodriguez.
Thursday matinee concerts are endowed by a gift in memory of Rhoda Goldman.
Preconcert talks are supported in memory of Horacio Rodriguez.
Yubeen Kim, flute
San Francisco Symphony
Yubeen Kim
Flute
Yubeen Kim joined the San Francisco Symphony as Principal Flute in January 2024, holding the Caroline H. Hume Chair. He has been principal flute of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin since 2016 and has frequently played as guest principal with the Berlin Philharmonic. Mr. Kim won first prize at the 2022 ARD International Music Competition and the 2015 Prague Spring International Music Competition, and won second prize, audience prize, young audience prize, and special prize at the 2014 Concours de Genève.
As a soloist, he has performed with the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Bochum Symphony, Seoul Philharmonic, KBS Symphony, Korean Symphony, Bucheon Philharmonic, Daejeon Philharmonic, Chungnam Philharmonic, Cheongju Philharmonic, Lyon Conservatory Orchestra, and Ensemble of Tokyo. Festival appearances include the Nimus Festival, Bemus Festival, Festival du Jura, Laureates Festival Concours de Genève, Prague Spring Festival, EuroArt Prague, Festival des Haudères, Concerts d’été à Saint-Germain, Tongyeong International Music Festival, and Arko Contemporary Orchestra Music Festival.
Mr. Kim studied at the Lyon Conservatory, Paris Conservatory, and the Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin. He performed on the Berlin Philharmonic’s Berlin Concert album with John Williams on Deutsche Grammophon.
As a soloist, he has performed with the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Bochum Symphony, Seoul Philharmonic, KBS Symphony, Korean Symphony, Bucheon Philharmonic, Daejeon Philharmonic, Chungnam Philharmonic, Cheongju Philharmonic, Lyon Conservatory Orchestra, and Ensemble of Tokyo. Festival appearances include the Nimus Festival, Bemus Festival, Festival du Jura, Laureates Festival Concours de Genève, Prague Spring Festival, EuroArt Prague, Festival des Haudères, Concerts d’été à Saint-Germain, Tongyeong International Music Festival, and Arko Contemporary Orchestra Music Festival.
Mr. Kim studied at the Lyon Conservatory, Paris Conservatory, and the Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin. He performed on the Berlin Philharmonic’s Berlin Concert album with John Williams on Deutsche Grammophon.
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