For more than 30 years, the Kronos Quartet has pursued a singular artistic vision with a spirit of fearless exploration. Through collaborating with many of the world’s most eclectic composers and performers, commissioning hundreds of works and arrangements for string quartet, performing thousands of concerts worldwide, and releasing more than 40 recordings of extraordinary breadth, Kronos has become one of the most influential groups of our time.

Kronos’ expansive discography on Nonesuch Records includes "Pieces of Africa," a showcase of African-born composers; a 2003 Grammy-winner, Alban Berg’s "Lyric Suite;" "Nuevo," a Grammy- and Latin Grammy–nominated celebration of Mexican culture; and a ten-disc retrospective anthology, "Kronos Quartet: 25 Years." Kronos’ recordings have been featured prominently on numerous film soundtracks including "Requiem for a Dream," "The Fountain," "21 Grams," "Heat," and "True Stories."

Kronos’ diverse repertoire includes music by 20th-century masters (Bartók, Webern), contemporary composers (Sofia Gubaidulina, Arvo Pärt), jazz legends (Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk), and artists from even farther afield (Jimi Hendrix, Pandit Pran Nath). Integral to Kronos’ work is a series of long-running collaborations with many of the world’s foremost composers, including “Father of Minimalism” Terry Riley, Henryk Górecki, Philip Glass, Franghiz Ali-Zadeh, Steve Reich, and Osvaldo Golijov.

The numerous artists Kronos counts among its collaborators include Bollywood “playback singer” Asha Bhosle; American soprano Dawn Upshaw; Mexican rockers Café Tacuba; the Romanian gypsy band Taraf de Haïdouks; and the unbridled British cabaret trio, the Tiger Lillies. Kronos has performed with icons Allen Ginsberg, Zakir Hussain, Modern Jazz Quartet, Tom Waits, Betty Carter, and David Bowie, and has appeared on recordings by Amon Tobin, Dan Zanes, DJ Spooky, Dave Matthews, Nelly Furtado, Rokia Traoré, Joan Armatrading, Matmos, and Don Walser.

A non-profit organization based in San Francisco, the Kronos Quartet is committed to mentoring emerging musicians, and in 2007 Kronos led its first Professional Training Workshop with four string quartets at Carnegie Hall. One of Kronos’ most exciting initiatives is the Kronos: Under 30 Project, providing select musicians under 30 years old an opportunity to write music for Kronos. (read less)

For more than 30 years, the Kronos Quartet has pursued a singular artistic vision with a spirit of fearless exploration. Through collaborating with many of the world’s most eclectic composers and performers, commissioning hundreds of works and arrangements for string quartet, performing thousands of concerts worldwide, and releasing more than 40 recordings of extraordinary breadth, Kronos has become one of the most influential groups of our time.

Kronos’ expansive discography on N... (read more)