Project Creator Alisa Weilerstein
Director Elkhanah Pulitzer
Set/Lighting Designer Seth Reiser
Costume Designers Carlos J Soto, Molly Irelan
Artistic Producer/Advisor Hanako Yamaguchi
FRAGMENTS is a groundbreaking, multi-year project for solo cello that weaves together the 36 movements of Bach’s solo cello suites with 27 newly commissioned works. The resulting collection is divided into six Fragments, each an hour long and blending five to six composers, to be released independently over several seasons.
Within each Fragment, individual movements from a single Bach suite are thoughtfully integrated with selected new works to create a distinct emotional arc. Enhanced by responsive lighting and scenic architecture, the music is performed without pause and without a program, making for a wholly original and immersive audience experience.
Featured Composers
2023-24 Performances
Tanglewood, Seiji Ozawa Hall – August 9, 2023
FRAGMENTS 2
Sanders Theatre, Boston, MA – November 5, 2023
FRAGMENTS 1
Maison Symphonique de Montréal – November 10, 2023
FRAGMENTS 1 & 2
Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, CA – November 15, 2023
FRAGMENTS 2
The Conrad, La Jolla, CA – November 16, 2023
Co-presentation with San Diego Symphony
FRAGMENTS 2
The Kennedy Center, Washington DC – April 6, 2024
FRAGMENTS 4 & 2
“My greatest hope is to deepen connection between audience and artist through a series of unique performances that embrace the world we live in without sacrificing the intellectual and aesthetic qualities that make this artform such a singular mode of human expression.” – Alisa Weilerstein
For more information about booking, please contact:
Opus 3 (North America)
Scott Mello: [email protected]
Askonas Holt (Europe, Asia, and Australia)
Tanja Schnitzer: [email protected]
Additional booking and contact information available at www.alisaweilerstein.com.
Leadership support for FRAGMENTS is generously provided by Joan and Irwin Jacobs. Patron support for FRAGMENTS is provided by Judy and Tony Evnin, Clara Wu Tsai and Paul Sekhri. FRAGMENTS has been made possible with commissioning support from Alphadyne Foundation, The San Diego Symphony, UC Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures, Carnegie Hall, Celebrity Series of Boston, The Royal Conservatory of Music, and Washington Performing Arts.
Special thanks to Martha Gilmer for her leadership and counsel, and to Celebrity Series of Boston and Aspen Music Festival and School for their in-kind contributions.