Mondavi Center Presents
Les Arts Florissants
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at 300
Théotime Langlois de Swarte, violin
Friday, March 21, 2025
7:30pm
Jackson Hall
For their Mondavi Center debut, Baroque superstars Les Arts Florissants are joined by fast-rising violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte in “Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at 300” commemorating the work’s original publication in 1725.
The program frames these iconic masterpieces afresh, setting them alongside music Vivaldi would have known in Venice and compositions that were, in turn, inspired by his bold vision. The Ensemble — which takes its name from a short opera by Marc-Antoine Charpentier — has played a pioneering role in the revival of a repertoire that had largely been forgotten and continues this tradition under the visionary leadership of their two artistic directors, William Christie and Paul Agnew.
Program List
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Adoramus te, SV 289
Claudio Monteverdi
(1567 -1643) -
Concerto for strings and basso continuo Madrigalesco” RV 129
Antonio Vivaldi
(1678–1741) -
Bergamasca
Marco Uccellini
(1603-1680) -
Concerto in D-Minor, RV 813
Vivaldi
-
Concerto XII in D-minor “Follia”. (after Corelli)
Francesco Geminiani
(1687–1762) -
Concerto in E-Major, Op. 8, No. 1, RV 269 (“Spring”)
Vivaldi
-
Concerto in G-Minor, Op. 8, No. 2, RV 315 (“Summer”)
Vivaldi
-
Overture to “La Fida Ninfa” (“The Faithful Nymph”) in F-Major, RV 714
Vivaldi
-
Concerto in F-Major, Op. 8, No. 3 RV 293 (“Autumn”)
Vivaldi
-
Grave from Violin Concerto in Bb-Major, RV 370
Vivaldi
-
Concerto in F-Minor, Op. 8, No. 4 RV 297 (“Winter”)
Vivaldi
Sponsored by
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The Nancy and Hank Fisher Family Fund
Individual support provided by
Dean and Karen Karnopp
Artist Bios
Théotime Langlois de Swarte
Violin
Théotime Langlois de Swarte
“Performances so special that I feel a changed man from listening” [Gramophone]; “A stunner by any standard” [The Strad]; and “Mesmerizing” [The New Yorker] – these represent common reactions upon encountering violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte who is rapidly emerging as a much sought-after violin soloist (on both baroque and modern instruments), chamber musician, recitalist, and conductor.
Recognition has come in the form of major awards, including 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 (REMA), along with multiple additional recording awards and a February, 2022 cover story in The Strad magazine.
In solo appearances on both baroque and modern violin, de Swarte regularly offers concertos by all of the baroque masters, along with those of Haydn and Mozart. He has appeared with Les Arts Florissants, Le Consort, Orchestre de l’Opera Royal, Holland Baroque, The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Les Ombres, and Orchestre National de Lorraine. His engagements have brought him to prestigious venues such as the Philharmonie de Paris, Vienna’s Musikverein, Elbphilharmonie, Berlin’s Philharmonie, Los Angeles’ Walt Disney Hall, and the Shanghai National Art Center. 2023 marked debuts at Carnegie Hall, at Wigmore Hall, and his first tour of Australia.
Théotime Langlois 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. He has since appeared as soloist with the ensemble, and will perform Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” with them on North American tours in spring and fall, 2025. He has also appeared in recital with William Christie, including a 2021 recording of sonatas by Leclair and Senaille (“Generations” on harmonia mundi).
As co-founder – with harpsichordist Justin Taylor – of the baroque ensemble Le Consort, de Swarte can be heard on numerous highly-acclaimed recordings including “Specchio Veneziano”, “Opus 1”, and “Royal Handel”, all on Alpha Classics. Le Consort has performed widely throughout Europe, and their debut North American tours in 23/24 include Montreal, Boston, Washington, Kansas City, Berkeley, Chicago, St. Paul, Louisville, New Orleans, Vancouver, and Ottawa.
Besides William Christie, frequent recital collaborators include harpsichordist Justin Taylor and lute player Thomas Dunford, with whom he recorded a much-praised album titled “The Mad Lover”. Another notable recording, “A Concert at the Time of Proust”, was made on the newly-restored Davidoff Stradivarius at the Philharmonie de Paris Museum. Forthcoming recordings for harmonia mundi include two major Vivaldi projects, one of which will feature “The Four Seasons” to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the work’s publication.
Alongside his instrumental work, de Swarte is emerging as a conductor. In 2023 he led performances at l’Opera Comique of Lully’s Le Bourgeois gentilhomme (with Les Musiciens du Louvre at Marc Minkowski’s invitation) and Gretry’s Zemire et Azor (at Louis Langrée’s invitation).
Théotime Langlois de Swarte is a laureate of the Banque Populaire Foundation. He 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.
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