THE [uncertain] FOUR SEASONS
What will our future sound like if we don’t act now on climate change?
The [uncertain] Four Seasons is an algorithmic re-composition of Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” that uses geospatial climate modeling from 2050 to depict the impact of climate change. The geo-location-specific algorithm maps geographic variations into Vivaldi’s original score, making it possible to generate different versions for specific locations. The [uncertain] Four Seasons has been recreated for fourteen orchestras around the world, including those in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Nairobi, Kenya; Seoul, South Korea; and now Portland, Maine.
In June 2022 Classical Uprising was proud to present the U.S. premiere of this work. Wanting an experience that would galvanize audience members rather than scold them, Artistic Director Emily Isaacson created a composite arrangement of Vivaldi’s original music and poetry with The [uncertain] Four Seasons and new poetry by local writer Kerem Durdag. Isaacson carefully spliced the two versions together to create a version that would disturb but inspire, disquiet but motivate. To provide concrete action items, 30 environmental nonprofits and businesses were invited to share information and resources to affect action, even if just a small change, to build a more sustainable future and protect our beautiful world.
“I wanted to strike a tone that is motivational and empowering—instead of overwhelming and dread-infused—to counteract climate paralysis. My hope is that the music will inspire you to take action, and that by having all these resources in one location it will be easy to get involved.”
Emily Isaacson, Artistic Director
FEATURED ARTISTS
Portland Bach Experience Orchestra
GRAMMY-nominated violinist Jesse Irons – violinist at Handel and Haydn Society and Boston Baroque; co-artistic director of the GRAMMY-nominated ensemble A Far Cry; guest-lecturer on entrepreneurship and chamber music at MIT, Yale, Stanford, Eastman, Peabody, and New England Conservatory
Conductor Dr. Emily Isaacson – 2018 Maine Artist of the Year; 2022 winner of The American Prize; faculty at Bowdoin College
Poet Kerem Durdag – Pakistani-born writer with deep roots in theater and poetry; business leader; immigration activist
PROJECT PARTNERS
Environmental: MOFGA, Wild See Project, Maine Audubon, Natural Resources Council of Maine, Revision Energy, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Efficiency Maine
Arts: Shoestring Theater, Horizon Voices, Ballet Bloom Project, Urban Farm Fermentory, Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education
Education: 240 Strings, Chewonki, The Ecology School, Desert of Maine
IMPACT
Call to action: use the arts to make the impacts of climate change heard and felt; to strike a tone that is motivational, empowering, and inspiring instead of overwhelming and dread-infused.
Community connection: Bring together local environmental organizations and businesses in one location to build social capital and provide individuals with concrete ways to take action to support our planet.
Accessible arts experiences: Make classical music approachable, accessible, social, and fun so that people—all people—are included in and welcomed to the art form.
“The juxtaposition of the original ‘Seasons’ with the new version was the perfect way to illustrate the change that we are experiencing and the gymnastics of the music—turning it upside down and inside out, swirling it and wringing it out—was the ultimate description of climate change. After ‘Spring’ I was in tears.”
Audience member
