Cellist Alisa Weilerstein playing solo in the middle of a circle of wooden set pieces, all different sizes, illuminated pink.

Alisa Weilerstein: FRAGMENTS

Introduction

In the ground-breaking performance series FRAGMENTS, Alisa Weilerstein brings a completely unique, hypnotic and transcendental performance experience to the classical stage.

New commissions by 27 different composers are interwoven with the six Bach Cello Suites, from which Alisa has curated this 6-part collection. Underscored with bespoke lighting, scenic architecture and costume design from a world-class team of creatives, each of the six FRAGMENTS embodies it's own striking identity that transforms the Bach Cello suites in turn.

No pause, no program.

Alisa invites the audience to simply immerse themselves into each wholly original 60-minute sonic landscape.

FRAGMENTS has toured extensively across the US, with 30+ performances to date, expanding to Europe with three tours in the 25/26 season and across to Asia in 26/27.

Major residencies include Carnegie Hall, San Diego Symphony, Spoleto Festival US and Southbank Centre London.

Composers

FRAGMENTS 1 - Wonder: Allison Loggins-Hull, Gili Schwarzman, Joan Tower, Johann Sebastian Bach, Reinaldo Moya, Chen Yi FRAGMENTS 2 - Tumult: Alan Fletcher, Ana Sokolovic, Caroline Shaw, Daniel Kidane, Gity Razaz, Johann Sebastian Bach FRAGMENTS 3 - Emergence: Carlos Simon, Jeffrey Mumford, Johann Sebastian Bach, Joseph Hallman, Thomas Larcher FRAGMENTS 4 - Labyrinth: Courtney Bryan, Gabriel Kahane, Johann Sebastian Bach, Matthias Pintscher, Missy Mazzoli, Paul Wiancko FRAGMENTS 5 - Lament: Gabriela Lena Frank, Gabriella Smith, Gerard McBurney, Johann Sebastian Bach, Mathilde Wantenaar, Osvaldo Golijov FRAGMENTS 6 - Radiance: Andy Akiho, Gabriela Lena Frank, Gabriella Smith, Jessie Montgomery, Johann Sebastian Bach, Tania León

Creative Team

Alisa Weilerstein, Project Creator, Performer Elkhanah Pulitzer, Director Seth Reiser, Scenic and Lighting Designer Molly Irelan, Costume Design Hanako Yamaguchi, Artistic Producer / Advisor Will Knapp, Production Manager

Contact

Emma Beecham

Emma Beecham

Associate Director
Rebecca Moore

Rebecca Moore

Assistant Project Manager

Connect

Performances

  • Apr 2026
    North America

    Alisa Weilerstein (Soloist) Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall Programme revealed after the performance.

Photos

Alisa Weilerstein performing on a pyre of light boxes
Cellist Alisa Weilerstein performs amongst some scattered light boxes
Alisa Weilerstein performing against a dark material backdrop

News

Press

  • Carnegie Hall, New York

    Carnegie Hall, New York
    Apr 2023 - Apr 2024

    • If Weilerstein’s response was a common one to a common crisis, the result of her reflections shines with uncommon ambition, so much so that it is hard to think of many soloists of a similar stature who would dare to bring anything like it to the stage.

  • Southbank Centre, London

    Southbank Centre, London
    Sep 2025 - Sep 2025

    • Weilerstein is in the vanguard of classical musicians seeking to bring new music to audiences, and new ways to do so... revinventing the solo cello for a multimedia age.

  • Spoleto Festival, US

    Charleston, US
    May 2025 - Jun 2025

    • The most awesome classical-music event this season, intertwining 27 new works by living composers with J.S. Bach’s Six Cello Suites,… Weilerstein crafted her FRAGMENTS into a creation you literally had to see. ...Maybe there was extra exhilaration in the writing or in Weilerstein’s playing. Or perhaps she had taught us how to listen along the way.

  • Kennedy Centre, Washington Performing Arts

    Washington DC
    Apr 2025 - Apr 2024

    • As Weilerstein launched into the visceral opening bars of Fragment 4 — I sensed a shift of energy in the audience: you could have heard the proverbial pin drop... There was everything here; sonic colours and textures that brought to my mind a fractal in multi-dimensions: history, future, the now.

  • Tanglewood Festival

    Tanglewood
    Aug 2023 - Aug 2023

    • Epiphanies don’t happen often... but when they do they’re a lot of fun. - Alisa Weilerstein