This performance interweaves new works by Allison Loggins-Hull, Gili Schwarzman, Joan Tower, Reinaldo Moya and Chen Yi with the individual movements of Bach’s Suite No.1 in G for solo cello.

Alisa Weilerstein: Fragments – Wonder

Southbank Centre

In Alisa Weilerstein’s ground-breaking performance series FRAGMENTS, new music by some of the most compelling composers of our time meets the timeless beauty of Bach’s Six Suites for Solo Cello.

New commissions by 27 different composers are interwoven with the individual movements of the Bach Suites. The result is a collection of six different FRAGMENTS performances in total, curated by Alisa and underscored with bespoke lighting, scenic architecture and costume design from a world-class team of creatives. Each of the six FRAGMENTS performances embodies its own striking identity that transforms the Bach Cello suites in turn.

EPSG:4326

Alisa Weilerstein: Fragments

College of Charleston Sottile Theatre

Passion and politics collide in this star-studded production of Mozart’s rarely performed work. Against the backdrop of a raging war, the King of Pontus must put his family’s loyalty to the test. With a bristling score written by Mozart at the age of 14, Mitridate explores the tension of family ties amidst jealousy, aging, betrayal, and desire.

Mitridate, re di Ponto

Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre

Join us for an unforgettable evening as Washington Performing Arts presents the innovative and theatrical new project, "Fragments," featuring the extraordinary cellist Alisa Weilerstein. This unique performance is set to take place on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at 7:30 PM at the prestigious John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Terrace Theater.

"Fragments" is a groundbreaking project conceived by the MacArthur Genius Award recipient, Alisa Weilerstein. The project brings together an eclectic mix of 27 composers from nine different nationalities, offering a diverse range of musical styles. The evening's performance will feature an intriguing arc that intersperses movements of Bach cello suites with 10-minute fragments of newly commissioned works, including compositions by Alan Fletcher, Ana Sokolović, Caroline Shaw, Daniel Kidane, Gity Razaz, and Johann Sebastian Bach himself.

This D.C.-premiere performance is not just a concert; it's an immersive experience designed to challenge conventional concert norms and add a layer of theatricality to the classical music experience. The project aims to reimagine what a cello recital can be, engaging the audience in a more immediate and visceral response to the music.

The 7:30 PM performance holds the special distinction of being the second-annual Ruth Bader Ginsburg Memorial Recital, an annual event by Washington Performing Arts to honor the legacy of a cherished friend and elevate the work of both established and emerging artists.

Please note, due to the unique nature of this performance, there will be absolutely no late seating. The performance will last for 60 minutes without an intermission.

Washington Performing Arts is committed to accessibility, ensuring that visitors of all abilities can experience this remarkable performance. For specific accessibility inquiries regarding Kennedy Center events, please visit the Kennedy Center's accessibility page or contact Washington Performing Arts directly.

Don't miss this opportunity to witness Alisa Weilerstein's "Fragments," a performance that promises to be a highlight of the classical music season.

Alisa Weilerstein, cello

Kennedy Center

The heart is an especially popular symbol as the physical locus of human feelings, longings, and pain. A man would like to live without the painful feelings in his heart; his lover wants to unite with his heart, while transcendental powers would also like to win it over. The composer Matthias Pintscher invents overwhelming and gripping sounds for the mysterious and strange events that take place in his opera Das kalte Herz (The Cold Heart).

Molly Irelan

Events

Upcoming events

11 - 23 Jan, 2026

Das kalte Herz · Staatsoper Berlin

Past events

Sep 27, 2025

Alisa Weilerstein: Fragments – Wonder · Southbank Centre

26 - 31 May, 2025

Alisa Weilerstein: Fragments · Spoleto Festival USA

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