Experience the timeless beauty of ‘Four Seasons’ with Les Arts Florissants and violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte
Pioneering a revival of Baroque repertoire, internationally renowned early music ensemble Les Arts Florissants takes the stage with one of today’s most sought-after young early music stars, violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte, to perform Vivaldi’s masterpiece “Four Seasons” at the Moss Arts Center on Wednesday, April 2, at 7:30 p.m.
Published in 1725, “Four Seasons” is considered among the most frequently heard music of all time. Prefacing it with foundational pieces by Geminiani and Monteverdi, this program frames the iconic work in a new light, inviting questions about the fleeting nature of existence, humanity’s relationship with the natural world, and the eternal renewal of Earth’s cycles.
Les Arts Florissants infuses the performance with a sense of narrative drama, enhancing the music’s storytelling and delivering an experience that feels almost theatrical. The intimate interplay between the violin and the ensemble creates an engaging dialogue, reinforcing the conversational nature of Baroque performance. The result is a “Four Seasons” that feels both timeless and refreshingly alive — a dazzling showcase of Les Arts Florissants’ ability to illuminate the past while captivating modern audiences.
The performance opens with a piece by Monteverdi, starting the evening’s journey in Venice prior to Vivaldi’s birth. The “Madrigalesco” concerto shows Vivaldi paying homage to the master, echoing Monteverdi’s bold harmonic approach, providing a bridge between this earlier style and 18th century virtuosity. Uccellini’s “La Bergamasca” plunges into the improvisational practices of the Venetians with a bass line familiar from current pop music.
Geminiani’s popular transcription of Corelli’s sonatas for chamber orchestra unites two geniuses of the baroque era. Corelli, whose groundbreaking Op. 5 concluded with Follia and was published in 1700, was an inspirational figure to the young Vivaldi, and Geminiani traveled widely and helped establish Italian repertoire throughout Europe.
This is followed by Vivaldi’s Op. 8, Nos. 1-4 (“The Four Seasons”), one of the most famous and frequently performed pieces in classical music. Each concerto represents a season — “Spring (La Primavera),” “Summer (L’Estate), “Autumn (L’Autunno),” and “Winter (L’Inverno)” — and vividly depicts natural scenes and human activities associated with them.
Les Arts Florissants is an ensemble specializing in the performance of Baroque music on period instruments. Founded in 1979 by the Franco-American harpsichordist and conductor William Christie and named for a short opera by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, the ensemble has played a pioneering role in the revival of a Baroque repertoire. Today, that repertoire is widely performed and admired — not only French music from the reign of Louis XIV, but also more generally European music of the 17th and 18th centuries.
The ensemble is conducted by the British tenor Paul Agnew, who was appointed musical co-director in 2019. Each season Les Arts Florissants gives around 100 concerts and opera performances in France and is an active ambassador for French culture abroad.
De Swarte is one of today’s most captivating young violinists. With his masterful technique, expressive depth, and deep passion for historically informed performance, Langlois de Swarte brings Baroque music to life with his stunning interpretations and charismatic stage presence.
In solo appearances on both baroque and modern violin, de Swarte regularly offers concertos by all of the baroque masters. He received the 2022 Diapason D’or of the Year for his recording of Vivaldi, Locatelli, and Leclair concertos (harmonia mundi), and the 2022 Ambassador of the Year Award from the European Early Music Network. De Swarte studied at the Paris Conservatory under Michael Hentz and became a regular member of Les Arts Florissants at William Christie’s invitation in 2014, while still a student. A laureate of the Banque Populaire Foundation, de Swarte plays on a Jacob Stainer violin of 1665 loaned by the Jumpstart Foundation and an Allessandro Gagliano from 1700 on loan from the Zylber Association.
This performance is supported in part by a gift from Erv Blythe. Additional funding is provided by the Deborah L. Brown Center for the Arts Excellence Fund.
Related events
De Swarte will meet with School of Visual Arts students to discuss the interplay between visual art, architecture, and music in Venice during the Baroque period.
Tickets
Tickets are $25-$65 for general audience and $10 for students and youth 18 and under. Tickets can be purchased online; at the Moss Arts Center's box office, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; or by calling 540-231-5300 during box office hours.
Venue and parking information
The performance will be held in the center’s Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre, located within the Street and Davis Performance Hall at 190 Alumni Mall. Convenient parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street and in downtown Blacksburg. Find more parking details online.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Jamie Wiggert at least 10 days prior to the event at 540-231-5300 or email wiggertj@vt.edu during regular business hours.