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

A postconcert discussion will follow the Thursday matinee, and a preconcert talk will be presented from the stage one hour before the Friday and Saturday concerts. Free to all ticketholders.

Artists

Alexi Kenney

Violin and Leader

Yubeen Kim

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

First SF Symphony Performances

Johann Sebastian Bach

Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050

Antonio Vivaldi

The Four Seasons

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons

Overview

Concert Extras

Sponsors

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons