Perspectives: Kronos Quartet | Five Decades

For 50 years San Francisco’s Kronos Quartet – David Harrington, John Sherba, Hank Dutt and Paul Wiancko – has challenged and reimagined what a string quartet can be, revolutionizing the string quartet into a living art form, responding to the people and issues of our time.  

The "Five Decades Tour" by Kronos Quartet is an extraordinary musical odyssey that traverses the group's illustrious fifty-year career, showcasing their pioneering spirit and innovative approach, with a repertoire that spans continents and centuries. 

"Acclaimed San Francisco string quartet celebrate their 50th anniversary with a typically dazzling, inventive and adventurous performance". Music OMH 

Kronos are renowned concert collaborators, working with Laurie Anderson, David Bowie, Rhiannon Giddens, Allen Ginsberg, Zakir Hussain, Paul McCartney, Modern Jazz Quartet, Patti Smith, Amon Tobin, Rokia Traoré, Dawn Upshaw, Mahsa Vahdat, Vân Ánh Võ, Tony Williams, and Howard Zinn. 

Performing seminal pieces from their extensive back catalogue, but always forward facing, this show will include performances of Steve Reich’s Different Trains, and works by Sigur Rós, Terry Riley, Laurie Anderson, Jlin, and Terry Riley’s remix of Sun Ra’s Nuclear War. 

With an unparalleled commitment to new works, Kronos have commissioned composers from all over the world, including John Cage, Morton Feldman, Philip Glass, Osvaldo Golijov, Michael Gordon, Henryk Górecki, Sofia Gubaidulina, Jlin, Meredith Monk, Pauline Oliveros, Astor Piazzolla, Steve Reich, Terry Riley, Kaija Saariaho, Tanya Tagaq, Tan Dun and Wu Man. 

The Five Decades tour adds to Kronos’ legacy of innovation by performing programs which feature new commissions, signature works from its vast repertoire, and pieces from Kronos’ Fifty for the Future project. 

Don’t miss this celebration of the legacy and impact of one of the most remarkable groups of our time.

Presented by NCH