Forty years in, Kronos Quartet still feels revolutionary. They have commissioned hundreds of new works for string quartet, recorded almost fifty albums, and brought the work of musicians from across the globe into the chamber musician tradition. “The best thing about Kronos,” writes The New Yorker , “is their unflagging curiosity about the world.”
Kronos’ curiosity will be on full display in their return to Durham. Their first appearance at the revamped Baldwin Auditorium features a Duke Performances commission: You Know Me From Here, which composer Missy Mazzoli calls a “musical journey homeward.” That’s also the theme of Aheym , which Bryce Dessner based on his grandparents’ turbulent journey to this country. And frequent Kronos collaborator Philip Glass contributes a brand-new Kronos-commissioned composition, String Quartet No. 6 , full of Glass’ trademark driving rhythms. Their program reveals a group more dedicated than ever to founder David Harrington’s dream of making the string quartet “vital and energetic and alive.”
This year Kronos also brings with them a new cellist, Sunny Jungin Yang. Kronos’ Grammy-winning record producer Judith Sherman calls Yang’s playing “joyful, beautiful, and meaningful.” Yang will no doubt help write another exciting chapter of this landmark group’s history.
As part of their residency at Duke University, Kronos Quartet will take part in two free events, both open-to-the-public:
Thursday, March 20 | 8 pm: Chamber music master class with Kronos Quartet violinist John Sherba and two Duke student chamber ensembles. Repertoire to include Bart?k’s Contrasts (trio for clarinet, violin, and piano) and Prokofiev’s Sonata for Two Violins . Nelson Music Room, Duke East Campus.
Friday, March 21 | 7 pm: Public conversation with Kronos founder David Harrington and Will Robin, Scholar-in-Residence at the North Carolina Symphony and contributor to The New Yorker and The New York Times . Harrington and Robin will discuss 40 years of boundary-breaking chamber music. Alizarin Gallery (119 W. Main St., 2nd Fl., Durham.)
Missy Mazzoli: You Know Me From Here*
Philip Glass: New Work
Bryce Dessner: Aheym (Homeward)
Alter Yechiel Karniol (Arr. Judith Berkson): Sim Sholom
Amon Tobin: New Work
Laurie Anderson (Arr. Jacob Garchik): Flow
*Commissioned, in part, by Duke Performances
