New Life for Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons

​Violin Virtuoso Daniel Hope and Composer Max Richter revitalize a classic

Nearly everyone is familiar with Vivaldi’s masterpiece The Four Seasons. Fragments of it play in over 100 movies and television episodes from The Simpsons to The Handmaid’s Tale,and the iconic tune has even become a universal song for wedding ceremonies. Charismatic violin virtuoso Daniel Hope was well aware of the reputation of Vivaldi’s expressive but over-done evergreen, and so he shied away from recording it. However, all that changed when contemporary composer Max Richter approached Hope about a recomposition of The Four Seasons. Written in 2012 specifically for Hope, this new look at a classic piece has caused Hope to fall in love with the music all over again. Learn more about the collaboration between Hope and Richter, and their journey to rediscover not only the gorgeous music of Vivaldi but their shared joy for The Four Seasons.

After the performance on Sunday, November 10, the Friends of the Center will host the first Artist-in-Conversation event of the 2019-2020 season, which includes a complimentary cocktail reception with Daniel Hope and musicians of the Zurich Chamber Orchestra, exclusively for Friends of the Center.

Anyone can join the Friends of the Center with a donation of $100 or more to the Center for the Arts. The Friends provide financial and volunteer support for the Center’s programs and activities, including Pre-Performance Discussions, community outreach and education programs, and special events such as the Artist-in-Conversations. Become a Friend today and join the hundreds of members who are enjoying these benefits as well as the satisfaction of supporting the arts at Mason.

Daniel Hope and the Zurich Chamber Orchestra performs both Vivaldi’s original work plus Max Richter’s Recomposed at George Mason University's Center for the Arts on Sunday, November 10 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available HERE.