During the 2009–2010 season, the Kronos Quartet curates an adventurous six-event Perspectives series at Carnegie Hall, collaborating with numerous artists from around the globe. The series begins on Tuesday, November 3 at 7:30 p.m. in Zankel Hall when Kronos is joined by virtuoso pipa player and long-time collaborator Wu Man for the world premiere of A Chinese Home, a multimedia project co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall, and directed and staged by director Chen Shi-Zheng. Also on the program is Tan Dun’s haunting Ghost Opera, also with Wu Man.
Yin Yu Tang serves as the inspiration for A Chinese Home. It is a 300-year-old, late Qing dynasty, merchants’ house from a southeastern Chinese village that was dismantled piece-by-piece at the turn of this millennium and rebuilt at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. It is the first house brought, in its entirety, from China to the United States, and its conservation and installation at the Peabody Essex Museum is a landmark in the history of international preservation. Not only have the building and its contents been preserved as artifacts, but also a major piece of Chinese culture has been brought halfway around the world, expanding opportunities for people in the Western Hemisphere to learn about the country’s architecture, art, and history.
A Chinese Home, the commission for Kronos Quartet and Wu Man, draws on the metaphors of displacement and migration as embodied by the house, as well as the personal and private versus the public and formal. The work explores China’s evolving identity through works ranging from folk tunes to electronic music, enhanced with staging and video elements by acclaimed stage and film director Chen Shi-Zheng, and with instruments constructed expressly for this work by MacArthur fellow Walter Kitundu. The wide-ranging selection of music and sounds, which will include traditional and popular works arranged by Jack Body and Jacob Garchik, has been curated by Kronos’ Artistic Director David Harrington and Wu Man with Chen Shi-Zheng. Tan Dun's epic Ghost Opera, also for quartet and pipa, draws from shamanistic peasant traditions dating back more than four millennia and also delves into China’s expansive culture, in an elemental staging with water, metal, stone and paper.
According to David Harrington, “I felt A Chinese Home should be dramatic and bold, and we would need to re-imagine our roles as performers … I embarked on a listening project that has taken me through many worlds of China. I wanted the layers of time, events and environment to collide in a detailed musical fabric: the rural and the urban, the private and the public, the ancient and the wildly modern … We have tried to celebrate the constant renewal the open door of music allows us.”
Wu Man adds, “As we began working on A Chinese Home, Yin Yu Tang became the key for us to unlock the past and explore the music of China, not only from the time of this particular house, but across the centuries. For me personally, this project has reconnected me with the history of my home country through music, and this has affected me deeply … To me, the essence of this project is the notion that a person’s home is where personal histories unfold, and that those personal tales can also tell a universal story.”
Perspectives: Kronos Quartet continues in March with four additional concerts in Zankel Hall as well as a Professional Training Workshop for young string quartets presented by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute.
March 11: Kronos Celebrates Terry Riley
On Thursday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m., Kronos Quartet celebrates 30 years of collaboration with composer Terry Riley—as well as the composer’s 75th birthday—with the New York premiere of Riley’s Transylvanian Horn Courtship, which draws inspiration from his legendary Poppy Nogood and the Phantom Band performances of the 1960s. Starting with Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector in 1980, the strong artistic relationship between Riley and Kronos has resulted in 25 new works. Transylvanian Horn Courtship features a set of string instruments with metal horns created especially for Kronos by MacArthur Fellow Walter Kitundu. The program will feature other recent works and commissions for Kronos by Terry Riley including the world premiere of Another Secret eQuation with the Young People’s Chorus of NYC; the New York premiere of The Welcoming Baptism of Sweet Daisy Grace (the most recent piece Riley has written for Kronos, in celebration of the birth of his granddaughter) as well as pieces from Sun Rings and Salome Dances for Peace.
March 12: Playing with Toys & Technology
Using an orchestra of toys, instruments constructed from remnant military materials by children from Angola, and technology capable of capturing tones emitted by the desert, Kronos revisits the joy in discovering new sounds through new means in a concert that focuses on musical sounds from unlikely sources. The concert on Friday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m. features world premieres by Portuguese instrument builder Victor Gama and Australian vocalist/composer J. G. Thirlwell, whose new work, Eremikophobia, is inspired by environmental acoustic phenomena. Also on the program is the New York premiere of Ge Gan-Ru’s Wrong, Wrong, Wrong! performed by toy piano virtuoso Margaret Leng Tan.
March 13: Tundra Songs
On Saturday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m., Kronos performs the New York premiere of Derek Charke’s Tundra Songs and collaborates with Inuit throat-singer Tanya Tagaq as part of an evening devoted to music from the Arctic Circle. The clarity and directness of music from the Far North will be heard through traditional folk instruments and contemporary electronic means alike. The ethereal plucked strings of Finnish kantele player Ritva Koistinen, the primitive sounds of the ancient Swedish hurdy gurdy electronically processed by Stefan Brisland-Ferner & Totte Mattsson, the muscular and rhythmic music of Finnish accordion/sampler duo Kimmo Pohjonen & Samuli Kosminen, and the raw and primal Inuit throat singing of Tanya Tagaq all join Kronos to evoke the powerful, varied soundscape of the Arctic Circle.
March 14: Music Without Borders
On Sunday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m., Kronos performs a program of music from Central and East Asia. Kronos joins the acclaimed Azeribaijani mugam singers Alim and Fargana Qasimov for a set of Azerbaijani songs, and performs the NY premiere of Afghan rubâb master Homayoun Sakhi’s Rangin Kaman for string quartet and rubâb. Musicians worldwide have traditionally borne the responsibility of channeling the spiritual, and of being ambassadors of their cultural heritage. Here, Kronos travels from the shamanistic performance of Korean artist Dohee Lee, to the varied landscapes and textures created by Afghan rubâb master Homayoun Sakhi, to Alim and Fargana Qasimov's ecstatic spiritual expression of mugam from Azerbaijan.
March 14–21: Professional Training Workshop
Committed to mentoring emerging professional performers, the Kronos Quartet leads a weeklong Professional Training Workshop, presented by The Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall, in March 2010. Working with three young professional string quartets and a pipa player, Kronos, in its second Carnegie Hall workshop since 2007, will give insight on commissioned repertoire they have championed for decades, including, with guest faculty member Wu Man, collaborative repertoire for string quartet and pipa like Tan Dun’s Ghost Opera and Terry Riley’s The Cusp of Magic. As part of the workshop, Kronos gives a public master class on Wednesday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Weill Recital Hall and the three young quartets will perform in Zankel Hall on Sunday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m.
About Kronos Quartet
For more than 30 years, San Francisco's 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 40 recordings of extraordinary breadth and creativity, collaborating with many of the world's most eclectic composers and performers, and commissioning hundreds of works and arrangements for string quartet. 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' adventurous, eclectic repertoire encompasses works by 20th-century masters (Bartók, Shostakovich, Webern), contemporary composers (Aleksandra Vrebalov, John Adams, Alfred Schnittke), jazz legends (Ornette Coleman, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk), and artists from even farther afield (rock guitar hero Jimi Hendrix, Azeri vocalist Alim Qasimov, and avant-garde saxophonist John Zorn). Integral to Kronos' work is a series of long-running, in-depth collaborations with many of the world's foremost composers, including Americans Terry Riley, Philip Glass, and Steve Reich; Azerbaijan's Franghiz Ali-Zadeh; Poland's Henryk Górecki; and Argentina's Osvaldo Golijov. Additional collaborators from around the world have included Chinese pipa virtuoso Wu Man; the legendary Bollywood "playback singer" Asha Bhosle; the renowned American soprano Dawn Upshaw; Mexican rockers Café Tacuba; the Romanian gypsy band Taraf de Haïdouks; and Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagaq.
The Quartet spends five months of each year on tour, appearing in the world's most prestigious concert halls, clubs, and festivals. Kronos is equally prolific on CD, with a discography on Nonesuch Records including Pieces of Africa (1992), a showcase of African-born composers that simultaneously topped Billboard’s Classical and World Music lists; Nuevo (2002), a Grammy- and Latin Grammy-nominated celebration of Mexican culture; and the 2003 Grammy-winner, Alban Berg’s Lyric Suite.
Kronos' recording and performances reveal only a fraction of the group's commitment to new music. As a non-profit organization based in San Francisco, the Kronos Quartet/Kronos Performing Arts Association has commissioned more than 650 new works and arrangements for string quartet. Music publishers Boosey & Hawkes and Kronos have released sheet music for three signature works, all commissioned for Kronos, in the first volume of the Kronos Collection, a performing edition edited by Kronos. The quartet is committed to mentoring emerging professional performers, and in 2007 Kronos led its first Professional Training Workshop with four string quartets as part of the Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall. One of Kronos' most exciting initiatives is the Kronos: Under 30 Project, a unique commissioning and composer-in-residence program for composers under 30 years old, launched in conjunction with Kronos' own 30th birthday in 2003. By cultivating creative relationships with such emerging talents and a wealth of other artists from around the world, Kronos reaps the benefit of 30 years' wisdom while maintaining a fresh approach to music-making inspired by a new generation of composers and performers.
Carnegie Hall’s Perspectives
Now in its eleventh season, Carnegie Hall’s Perspectives series is an artistic initiative in which select musicians are invited to explore their own musical individuality and create their own personal concert series through collaborations with other musicians and ensembles.
Previous Perspectives artists have included conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim; conductors Pierre Boulez, James Levine, Michael Tilson Thomas, and David Robertson; violinist Gidon Kremer; cellist Yo-Yo Ma; pianists Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Leif Ove Andsnes, Martha Argerich, Emanuel Ax, Maurizio Pollini, Peter Serkin, and Mitsuko Uchida; soprano Dawn Upshaw; bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff; the Emerson String Quartet; Senegalese vocalist Youssou N’Dour; Brazilian singer-songwriter Caetano Veloso; Indian classical tabla player Zakir Hussain; and experimental rocker David Byrne.
Program Information for Perspectives: Kronos Quartet at Carnegie Hall
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
Zankel Hall
KRONOS QUARTET
David Harrington, Violin
John Sherba, Violin
Hank Dutt, Viola
Jeffrey Zeigler, Cello
WU MAN, Pipa
Chen Shi-Zheng, Director and Visual Designer
A CHINESE HOME
TAN DUN
Ghost Opera
A Chinese Home (World Premiere, co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall)
Conceived by Wu Man, David Harrington and Chen Shi-Zheng
Pre-concert talk starts at 6:30 p.m. in Zankel Hall: David Harrington, Wu Man, and Chen Shi-Zheng in conversation with Jeremy Geffen, Director of Artistic Planning, Carnegie Hall.
This tour of Kronos Quartet is made possible by a grant from Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program.
Tickets: $32, $52
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Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
Zankel Hall
KRONOS QUARTET
David Harrington, Violin
John Sherba, Violin
Hank Dutt, Viola
Jeffrey Zeigler, Cello
Young People's Chorus of New York City
Francisco J. Núñez, Artistic Director
KRONOS CELEBRATES TERRY RILEY
ALL-TERRY RILEY PROGRAM
TERRY RILEY
Another Secret eQuation (2009) (World Premiere)
with Young People's Chorus of New York City
Francisco J. Núñez, Artistic Director and Founder
TERRY RILEY
Transylvanian Horn Courtship (2008) (NY Premiere)
TERRY RILEY
The Welcoming Baptism of Sweet Daisy Grace (2008) (NY Premiere)
TERRY RILEY "One Earth, One People, One Love" from
Sun Rings (2002)
TERRY RILEY
Good Medicine from
Salome Dances for Peace (1985–1986)
Tickets: $32, $52
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Friday, March 12, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
Zankel Hall
KRONOS QUARTET
David Harrington, Violin
John Sherba, Violin
Hank Dutt, Viola
Jeffrey Zeigler, Cello
MARGARET LENG TAN, Toy Piano, Toy Orchestra, and Vocals
VICTOR GAMA, Pangeia Instrumentos
PLAYING WITH TOYS & TECHNOLOGY
Program to include:
GE GAN-RU
Wrong, Wrong, Wrong! (NY Premiere)
Margaret Leng Tan, toy piano, toy orchestra, voice
VICTOR GAMA
SOL(t)O
Victor Gama,
Pangeia Instrumentos
VICTOR GAMA
Rio Cunene (World Premiere)
Kronos Quartet, string quartet, Pangeia Instrumentos, custom instruments
J. G. THIRLWELL
Eremikophobia (World Premiere)
Kronos Quartet
Plus solo works to be performed by Margaret Leng Tan
Tickets: $28, $42
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Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
Zankel Hall
KRONOS QUARTET
David Harrington, Violin
John Sherba, Violin
Hank Dutt, Viola
Jeffrey Zeigler, Cello
RITVA KOISTINEN, Kantele
HURDY-GURDY
Stefan Brisland-Ferner, Hurdy Gurdy and Electronics
Totte Mattsson, Hurdy Gurdy and Electronics
KIMMO POHJONEN, Accordion and Voice
SAMULI KOSMINEN, Accordion Samples and Voice Samples
TANYA TAGAQ, Vocals
TUNDRA SONGS
Program to include:
ARVO PÄRT
Pari Intervallo
Ritva Koistinen,
kantele
HURDY-GURDY (S. BRISLAND-FERNER & T. MATTSON)
Scatter (NY Premiere)
Kronos Quartet
KIMMO POHJONEN & SAMULI KOSMINEN
Kamala from
Uniko
Kronos Quartet
Kimmo Pohjonen, accordion, voice
Samuli Kosminen, accordion samples, voice samples
DEREK CHARKE
Tundra Songs (NY Premiere)
Kronos Quartet
Tanya Tagaq, voice
Plus solo works performed by Ritva Koistinen, Hurdy Gurdy, Kimmo Pohjonen & Samuli Kosminen
Tickets: $28, $42
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Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
Zankel Hall
KRONOS QUARTET
David Harrington, Violin
John Sherba, Violin
Hank Dutt, Viola
Jeffrey Zeigler, Cello
DOHEE LEE, Vocals and Piri
HOMAYOUN SAKHI, Afghan Rubâb
ALIM QASIMOV ENSEMBLE
Alim Qasimov, Vocals and Daf
Fargana Qasimova, Vocals and Daf
Additional artists to be announced
MUSIC WITHOUT BORDERS
DOHEE LEE (realized by J. GARCHIK)
Sinawi (NY Premiere)
Kronos Quartet
Dohee Lee, voice, piri
HOMAYOUN SAKHI (arr. S. PRUTSMAN)
Rangin Kaman (The Rainbow) (NY Premiere)
Kronos Quartet
Homayoun Sakhi, rubâb
Set by Alim Qasimov Ensemble & Kronos Quartet, including
SAID RUSTAMOV (arr. A. QASIMOV/J. GARCHIK)
Getme, Getme (Don't Go, Don't Go)
(US Premiere)
JAHANGIR JAHANGIROV
Köhlen Atim (My spirited horse)
(arr. A. QASIMOV/J. GARCHIK) Leyla
SHAFIGA OKHUNDOVA (arr. A. QASIMOV/J. GARCHIK)
Mehriban Olaq (Let's be kind)
(arr. A. QASIMOV/J. GARCHIK)
Peyman Ettik (I gave my word)
(arr. A. QASIMOV/J. GARCHIK)
Qashlarin Kamandir (Your eyebrows are bow-like)
Plus solo works performed by Dohee Lee
Tickets: $28, $42
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Sunday, March 14 to Sunday, March 21, 2010
KRONOS QUARTET:
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING WORKSHOP
FOR STRING QUARTETS
Kronos Quartet leads a weeklong exploration of the repertoire they have championed for decades, guiding three young quartets and a pipa player in a Professional Training Workshop at Carnegie Hall presented by The Weill Music Institute. Wu Man joins as a guest faculty artist, focusing on collaborative repertoire for string quartet and pipa, including excerpts from Tan Dun’s
Ghost Opera and Terry Riley’s
The Cusp of Magic.
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Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
Weill Recital Hall
KRONOS QUARTET MASTER CLASS
Artists to be announced
Professional Training Workshops are made possible, in part, by Mr. and Mrs. Nicola Bulgari and the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation
Tickets: $20
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Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
Zankel Hall
KRONOS QUARTET YOUNG ARTISTS CONCERT
Artists to be announced
Professional Training Workshops are made possible, in part, by Mr. and Mrs. Nicola Bulgari and the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation
Tickets: $15
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Bank of America is the Proud Season Sponsor of Carnegie Hall.
