Kronos Quartet programme revealed

Kronos Quartet programme revealed

New Zealand’s largest chamber music presenter Chamber Music New Zealand have revealed the music that the Kronos Quartet will perform at their two New Zealand concerts next year. Kronos are in Auckland as part of the 2005 Auckland Festival AK05 on Wednesday 23 February and in Wellington on Monday 14 March.

The Kronos Quartet are one of the world’s most influential contemporary ensembles and visit New Zealand in 2005 for the first time in nine years. Their programme is a selection of ‘eclectic and electrifying’ world music.

Hindi film music maker Rahul Dev Burman is known for introducing an era of electronic rock to the Hindi film scene in the 1960’s. In fact, many of the tunes being remixed in the Indi-Pop scene today are compositions of his. Kronos performed one of Burman’s compositions, Aaj Ki Raat, on their Caravan CD released in 2000. The quartet will perform an arrangement of four of his pieces, ‘Suite’ on their New Zealand tour next year.

The group will also perform a piece by young composer Alexandra du Bois. Twenty three year old Alexandra was the first recipient of the quartet’s prize for up and coming composers, the Kronos: Under 30 Project. Kronos will perform her winning piece, ‘Oculus Pro Oculo Totum Orbem Terrae Caecat’, which means ‘an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind’.

The quartet are known as supporters of minimalist music, and will perform a piece by American composer Steve Reich. Kronos will play his ‘Triple Quartet’ (which includes pre recorded backing tracks by Kronos).

Other highlights of the programme include ‘Myself when I am real’ by the jazz great Charles Mingus, ‘Potassium’ by rock music fan Michael Gordon (written especially for the group), and ‘Oasis’ by Azerbaijan composer and pianist Franghiz Ali-Zadeh.

General Manager Brian Budd says, “For over 30 years, Kronos Quartet have pushed the edge of chamber music repertoire and continue to change the way audiences experience music. Once again Kronos Quartet have stayed true to their artistic vision with a programme that represents their passion for embracing and expressing a diversity of music. As we say at Chamber Music New Zealand, the Kronos Quartet programme and performance will be ‘eclectic and electrifying’.”

The tour is supported by the Adam Foundation, Endeavour Trust and Willi Fels Trust.

For more information or to request a 2005 brochure ph 0800 CONCERT (266 2378) or visit http://www.chambermusic.co.nz

In presenting 2005’s artists, Chamber Music New Zealand acknowledges major funding from Creative New Zealand.

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About Kronos Quartet

With their unique artistic vision and a fearless dedication to experimentation, Kronos continue to change the way audiences experience music and often include multi-media displays in their performances.

Kronos’ music has featured in films Requiem for a Dream (composed by Phillip Glass), 21 Grams, Heat and True Stories and also in dance, with choreographers like Twyla Tharp setting pieces to Kronos’ music.

The group are synonymous with musical innovation and have performed live with the likes of icons Allen Ginsberg, the Modern Jazz Quartet, and David Bowie, and have appeared on recordings by Dave Matthews, Nelly Furtado, and Texas yodeler Don Walser.

Kronos Quartet’s appeal extends to lovers of classical, jazz, rock and world music. Their CMNZ 2005 tour is presented in association with the Endeavour Trust.

Quotes

“I’ve always wanted the string quartet to be vital, and energetic, and alive, and cool, and not afraid to kick ass and be absolutely beautiful and ugly if it has to be. But is has to be expressive of life. To tell the story with grace and humour and depth. And to tell the whole story, if possible.” David Harrington "Unswervingly hip" The Washington Post

“The Fab Four of classical music” Rolling Stone

"Kronos have expanded every possible boundary that the quartet tradition has presented" The Strad

About Chamber Music New Zealand

Chamber Music New Zealand present local and international chamber music ensembles throughout New Zealand. Their annual Celebrity Season showcases premier international artists, while the Associate Societies programme focuses on New Zealand performers. The New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest, which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2005, fosters the musical stars of the future.

CONCERT DATES

Auckland - Wednesday 23 February, Auckland Town Hall, 8pm Presented as part of Auckland Festival AK05

Wellington - Monday 14 March, Wellington Town Hall, 8pm

PROGRAMME

Michael Gordon Potassium * Charles Mingus (arr. Sy Johnson) Myself When I Am Real + Franghiz Ali-Zadeh Oasis * Rahul Dev Burman Suite + (arr. Stephen Prutsman / Kronos)

I. Mehbooba Mehbooba

II. Nadir Paare Uthche Dhowa

III. Saajan, Sajna Re, Saajan Kahan Jaoongi Main

IV. Dhanno Ki Aankhon

Interval

Alexandra du Bois String Quartet: Oculus Pro Oculo Totum Orbem Terrae Caecat (“an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”) * Steve Reich Triple Quartet *

* Written for Kronos + Arranged for Kronos

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

http://chambermusic.co.nz/artists/79.php

Kronos Quartet: www.kronosquartet.org Kronos: Under 30 Project: http://www.kronosquartet.org/under30/

Kronos Quartet is presented in concert by Chamber Music New Zealand.

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