FOR SEASONS transforms 300 years of climate data into a recomposed version of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. The concert piece alters musical structure, timing, and orchestral material through data sonification.
Our Role Sound Concept, Algorithmic Score Editing // Client NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra // Production Company Merkenfilm Crossing // Creative Agency Jung von Matt AG // PR / Marketing Segmenta Communications / Hamburg // Sound Partner Markenfilm SPACE // Year 2019
Awards // CANNES LIONS - Gold - Creative Data // CANNES LIONS - Bronze - Radio & Audio // ONE SHOW - Gold - Creative Use of Data / Storytelling // ONE SHOW - Best of Discipline - Creative Use of Data / Storytelling // ONE SHOW - Silver - Craft / Use of Sound // ONE SHOW - Green Pencil // D&AD Graphite Pencil - Sound Design & Use of Music // D&AD - Wood Pencil - Radio & Audio // NEW YORK FESTIVALS - Gold - Best Use of Music // NEW YORK FESTIVALS - Gold - Sound Design // NEW YORK FESTIVALS - Bronze - Live Experience // NEW YORK FESTIVALS NEW YORK FESTIVALS Live Experience - Bronze // ADC GERMANY Gold - Digital Communication - Data-Driven Creativity // ADC GERMANY Silver - Audio - Innovative Use of Audio // ADC GERMANY Silver - Event Experience - Craft - Music /Sound // ADC GERMANY Silver - Next Level // ADC GERMANY Silver - Craft - Innovation in Production
FOR SEASONS is a concert project developed with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra that makes climate change audible through music. Using historical climate data, the project recomposes Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons into a contemporary orchestral work shaped by environmental transformation.
An expert team of software developers and music arrangers adapted the original score using climate datasets collected across roughly three centuries. The resulting composition changes musical timing, harmonic behavior, structure, and orchestral material according to the underlying data. The project premiered at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg in 2019.
The project approaches data sonification through orchestral composition. Climate data does not appear as visual information or scientific annotation; it directly reshapes the musical work itself. Familiar passages become unstable, fragmented, accelerated, or altered through the recomposed score, allowing environmental change to emerge through listening.
Our contribution focused on the sound concept and algorithmic score editing for the recomposed piece. The work was created in collaboration with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, Jung von Matt, Markenfilm Crossing, Segmenta Communications, and additional production partners.
Premiered at Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and streamed to a worldwide audience, For Seasons reached millions and was covered in more than 130 countries.
Now part of the United Nations Development Programme.
Planning an exhibition, museum, or installation?
