MAY 5-8 | Hewlett 50
May 07 - May 08, 2022
Miner Auditorium
PLEASE NOTE:
This page is an archive of a past production
Please visit our calendar for all upcoming SFJAZZ shows.
Original show description below.
At War With Ourselves – 400 Years of You is an evening-length work for string quartet, chorus and spoken word commissioned by new music’s premier ensemble, the Kronos Quartet, who perform for these two exclusive nights with a choir directed by Valérie Sainte-Agathe.
Part of the Hewlett 50 initiative and co-commissioned with SFJAZZ, the work is composed by Michael Abels, who has recently come to prominence for his scores for Jordan Peele's films Get Out and Us. His orchestral work Global Warming has received over 100 performances by the nation’s most prominent symphony orchestras, and he has received commissions from the Nashville Symphony, the Chicago Sinfonietta and the Los Angeles Opera.
With a text by poet Nikky Finney, whose honors include the National Book Award for her 2011 volume Head Off & Split, the piece explores the ongoing conundrum of race relations and movements for social justice, civil rights, and resistance.
In ensuring that perspectives of younger generations are part of the conversation, Kronos has partnered with 826 Valencia and Sunset Youth Services for a series of workshops and community outreach activities including artist residencies.”
With a text by poet Nikky Finney, At War With Ourselves explores the ongoing conundrum of race relations and movements for social justice, civil rights, and resistance.
WITH SUPPORT FROM
CONCERT SPONSORS
Barbara Z. and Barry X. Lynn
A keen ear and a deft ability to adapt structural elements from popular music into the symphonic idiom.
Houston Chronicle on Michael Abels
A keen ear and a deft ability to adapt structural elements from popular music into the symphonic idiom.
Houston Chronicle on Michael Abels
Personnel
KRONOS QUARTET
David Harrington violin
John Sherba violin
Hank Dutt viola
Sunny Yang cello
Valérie Sainte-Agathe choral conductor
Michael Abels composer
Nikky Finney narrator
The quartet remains as geographically, politically and spiritually feisty as ever. Forget about genre; Kronos made that an irrelevant term ages ago.
Los Angeles Times
Personnel
KRONOS QUARTET
David Harrington violin
John Sherba violin
Hank Dutt viola
Sunny Yang cello
Valérie Sainte-Agathe choral conductor
Michael Abels composer
Nikky Finney narrator
The quartet remains as geographically, politically and spiritually feisty as ever. Forget about genre; Kronos made that an irrelevant term ages ago.
Los Angeles Times
Watch & Listen
Kronos Quartet
Wa Habibi
Michael Abels
Sikiliza Kwa Wahenga (Main Title from 'Get Out')
Kronos Quartet
Wa Habibi
Michael Abels
Sikiliza Kwa Wahenga (Main Title from 'Get Out')
MAY 5-8 | Hewlett 50
MAY 5–6
Golden City Suite
Miguel Zenón