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Kronos Quartet with special guest Wu Man, pipa

Kronos Quartet returns to Cal Performances with frequent collaborator Wu Man for a kaleidoscopic program of compositions written for the unique instrumentation of string quartet and pipa. Terry Riley’s The Cusp of Magic creates a sweet and joyful synergy between the quartet and the plucked Chinese lute. Tan Dun’s otherworldly, ritualistic Ghost Opera was written for the first meeting of this quintet in 1994 and has remained in Kronos’ repertoire ever since. The two works are complemented by Wu Man’s original works and interpretations of Chinese traditional themes, created for Kronos’ open access education initiative Fifty for the Future. Kronos also performs Steve Reich’s Different Trains, a signature work that won the 1990 Grammy for Best Contemporary Composition. “Everything about Different Trains—its boldness, its subject matter, its sound requirements—has pushed Kronos and our music into many new directions,” wrote Kronos’ David Harrington. “We thank Steve for writing this masterpiece for Kronos, which has altered our work forever and has helped to reinvigorate our entire musical form.”

“[Kronos’] ability to inhabit completely different musical and cultural worlds within minutes of each other betrays the quartet’s depth of study, musical and technical prowess, and devotion to a variety of musical cultures and styles” (The Strad).

Full Program: 

Terry Riley / The Cusp of Magic (first movement) *

with special guest Wu Man, pipa

Traditional (arr. Wu Man, real. Danny Clay) / Glimpses of Muqam Chebiyat **

I. Chebiyat Muqam – Muqaddima +
II. Chebiyat Muqam – Third Dastan +

with special guest Wu Man, pipa

Wu Man (real. Danny Clay) / Two Chinese Paintings **

I. Wu Man / Ancient Echo **
II. Traditional / Silk and Bamboo (inspired by Huanlege) +

with special guest Wu Man, pipa

Steve Reich / Different Trains *

America—Before the war
Europe—During the war
After the war

INTERMISSION

Tan Dun / Ghost Opera *

with special guest Wu Man, pipa