Kronos Quartet (USA)To Premiere Three Australian Pieces at Melbourne Festival

15-Sep-2011 The upcoming Melbourne Festival is offering  a rare opportunity to witness one of the most fêted and inspiring ensembles of our time in recital, as the Kronos Quartet (left - photo credit Jay Blakeberg) perform an exhilarating suite of works that includes the Australian premiere of three striking, original pieces.

This remarkable concert features a repertoire of pieces written or arranged exclusively for the Grammy winning Kronos Quartet, including the Australian premiere of Steve Reich's WTC 9/11 – a dissonant, propulsive meditation on the 2001 World Trade Centre catastrophe that incorporates the voices of defence and fire department personnel recorded during the attack. This new quartet is the third work Reich has written for string quartet, all three of which were written for and commissioned by Kronos. Also receiving their Australian premieres are Tenebre, a work by Bryce Dessner, best known as the guitarist for indie rock band The National, and Nicole Lizée’s Death to Kosmische.

“The best thing about Kronos is their unflagging curiosity about the world. Their failures are as riveting as others’ successes, and their successes have widened the world of sound.” The New Yorker

This recital showcases the depth and diversity of a creative vision unparalleled in modern music. By turns adventurous and sorrowful, astounding and emotive, Kronos Quartet is a testament to the sweeping power and endless potential of string music.

For over 30 years, the Kronos Quartet—David Harrington, John Sherba (violins), Hank Dutt (viola) and Jeffrey Zeigler (cello)— has pursued a singular artistic vision, combining a spirit of fearless exploration with a commitment to expanding the range and context of the string quartet. In the process, Kronos has become one of the most celebrated and influential ensembles of our time, performing thousands of concerts worldwide, releasing more than 45 recordings of extraordinary breadth and creativity, collaborating with many of the world’s most eclectic composers and performers, and commissioning more than 700 works. Kronos' work has also garnered numerous awards, including a Grammy for Best Chamber Music Performance (2004) and Musicians of the Year (2003) from Musical America.

Kronos continually embrace the work of their contemporary peers, having performed live with Allen Ginsberg, Zakir Hussain, and David Bowie. They can also be heard on recordings by Nine Inch Nails, Amon Tobin and Nelly Furtado.

Kronos' music has also featured prominently in other media, including film (Requiem for a Dream- video below, 21 Grams, Heat) and dance, with noted choreographers such as Merce Cunningham and Eiko & Koma setting pieces to Kronos' music.

Venue: Melbourne Recital Centre, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall
Dates: Tue 18 Oct at 8pm
Duration: 1 hr 50min with interval
Tickets: Priced from $25 - $70
Bookings: Ticketmaster 1300 723 038 / www.melbournefestival.com.au

Melbourne Recital Centre (03) 9699 3333 / www.melbournerecital.com.au

 

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