Grammy-winning San Francisco string ensemble Kronos Quartet often collaborates with emerging, international composers, and their “Fifty for the Future” project is one example of their efforts to broaden the scope of contemporary classical music.
The project, now in its fourth year, commissions 10 new works a year from five men and five women. (2020 will be the final year, resulting in 50 new works.) Beyond performing the new music, Kronos Quartet also publishes the scores online for free along with other resources for students and professional musicians alike. The latest “Fifty for the Future” cycle includes works by electronic producer Jlin, celebrated minimalist composer Terry Riley, Taiwanese pianist Lu Yun and more.
At UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall on Jan. 25, Kronos Quartet premieres some of their latest “Fifty for the Future” pieces, including Misato Mochizuki’s Boids, inspired by science and technology, and Mario Galeano Toro’s Tolo Midi, which draws from years of musical research in Colombia. Guest artist Soo Yeon Lyuh joins the quartet on the haegeum, a traditional Korean instrument, for her piece Yessori. Student ensembles from Berkeley High, Oakland School for the Arts and Crowden School will also perform several Kronos-commissioned pieces.
Click here for the full program and show details.
