The National Chamber Ensemble. Photo by David Moss.
“It’s not all the time you hear all four seasons together—so tonight is a treat. I could get a doctorate.” Those words, spoken by philanthropist and first-ever NCE Arts Champion Awardee Nancy Perry Marriott, perfectly captured the spirit of the evening. The Kennedy Center Terrace Theater buzzed with anticipation, and as the lights dimmed, the National Chamber Ensemble swept the audience into a whirlwind of sound, story, and seasonality.
…refined, reimagined, and brimming with personality…We need more performances like this…
From the moment violinist and Artistic Director Leo Sushansky stepped into the stage lights, it was clear this wouldn’t be a typical classical concert. Smiling with the quiet pride of someone returning to sacred ground, he shared that his first performance of “Four Seasons”—a Heifetz arrangement—had taken place on this very stage. But tonight, he explained with a glint of mischief, was different. We would hear his version—refined, reimagined, and brimming with personality.
The evening opened with the “Concerto for Strings in D Minor,” featuring students from NCE’s young artist program. Their poised performance, layered with focus and promise, affirmed NCE’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of talent.
Then came the centerpiece, “The Four Seasons.” As the first notes rang out, the stage became a canvas, Vivaldi’s music the paint, and the ensemble his brush. Each concerto was accompanied by striking visuals projected behind the musicians—cinematic, evocative, and often playful.
Spring bloomed gently. Lynda Carter—Wonder Woman herself—took the stage to recite Vivaldi’s accompanying sonnet, describing birdsong, murmuring brooks, and sudden spring storms. “Now, in Heifetz’s version,” Leo quipped to the audience, “the dog was… a bit ferocious.” He nodded toward violinist Jennifer, “But Jennifer’s playing a gentler breed.” The audience laughed, and the ensemble launched into the sweet, pastoral rhythms. On screen, a young girl twirled through a meadow, a wreath of flowers on her head as bluebirds fluttered above. Thunder flickered across the backdrop, echoing the music’s momentary darkening.
Summer arrived with tension already in the air. Leo warned us to listen for the buzzing hornets, the pressure of the heat, the sudden storm. “This is where the music starts sweating,” he joked. Indeed, the musicians conjured heat through pulsing strings and anxious crescendos. A visual of a tree bent nearly sideways in a storm underscored the movement’s drama. The audience could feel the weight of summer pressing down.
Autumn brought a shift in tone—merriment tinged with chaos. “I don’t know if you know what it’s like to celebrate with peasants,” Leo deadpanned, “but they have a drink. Or ten.” As Carter narrated the scenes of harvest revelry, the ensemble mirrored the stagger and swirl of drunken celebration. Then came the hunt. “Now the fox is released,” Leo intoned, voice low. The music darted and galloped, horns blaring and dogs barking as the chase escalated. The projected image of a Rembrandt-style still life capped the scene with elegance and irony.
Winter was fierce, stark, and unexpectedly humorous. Leo acted out stomping off snow, mimicked chattering teeth, and described the slapstick of slipping on ice. The ensemble mirrored his energy, embodying the jagged tension of icy wind and the softness of falling snow. A delicate plucking of violin strings evoked raindrops—subtle, shimmering, and achingly quiet.
As the final note faded, Lynda Carter returned to the stage with a warm smile: “You made us laugh, you made us feel, you made us wonder what the other composers were thinking when they wrote their materials.”
This was more than a concert. It was a conversation across centuries—between Vivaldi, Heifetz, Sushansky, the ensemble, and every soul in the audience. It reminded us that classical music isn’t a museum piece—it’s a living, breathing expression of humanity. Vivaldi once wrote, “Such is winter, but it has its joys.” On this night, those joys were shared by all.
We need more performances like this—ones that honor the old while inviting us to experience something entirely new.
Running Time: Two hours including one intermission.
“Vivaldi’s Extraordinary ‘Four Seasons'” ran on June 12, 2025, presented by the National Chamber Ensemble at The Kennedy Center Terrace Theater, 2700 F St NW, Washington, DC 20566. Included special appearances by Lynda Carter (narrator) and Nancy Perry Marriott (honoree). For more information on upcoming he National Chamber Ensemble concerts and to purchase tickets, please go online.
