The pre-Socratic Greek philosopher Empedocles recognized the four elements of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. Taoist tradition ignored Air but included Metal and Wood, for a total of five elements. Surely conceived as an alternative to Vivaldi’s ineluctable Four Seasons, the new concert suite The Elements, for violin and orchestra, proposes yet another lineup. Commissioned by Joshua Bell, that most personable of latter-day Paganinis, it comprises five movements by as many composers. Kevin Puts is responsible for Earth, Edgar Meyer for Water, Jennifer Higdon for Air, and Jake Heggie for Fire (so far, so pre-Socratic). The fifth element of Space—hitherto noncanonical—is the work of Jessie Montgomery. These season-opening concerts mark the Asian premiere of The Elements. Jaap van Zweden conducts, rounding out his program with Tchaikovsky’s fate-haunted Symphony No. 4. —Matthew Gurewitsch