For over 50 years, the legendary American string quartet Kronos Quartet has been breaking a lance for contemporary music and enjoys performing works by up-and-coming composers. On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the quartet will perform the new composition Through their eyes at TivoliVredenburg, in a collaboration with Music Meeting. The composition was written by Saskia Venegas Aernouts, who, as a New Maker at Music Meeting, is undergoing a two-year development process. Tickets are on sale through the TivoliVredenburg website.
By facing the deep-seated pain and unresolved crimes against humanity of her native Spain, Venegas reflects on the loss of empathy and its dangers in her composition Through Their Eyes.
Grief rituals, an important part of healing, are disrupted, leaving families trapped in generational trauma. "This wound festers beneath the surface as unresolved grief and anger are passed from generation to generation. The loss of empathy in society, fueled by fear and hatred, leads to further cruelty and dehumanization of the "other. If we do not learn to see through the eyes of others, history will continue to repeat itself and my country's past will unfortunately become another country's future."
Kronos Quartet
The New York-based Kronos Quartet, famous for its lively performances and bold repertoire for 50 years, is coming to Utrecht at the invitation of TivoliVredenburg and Music Meeting Festival. The string quartet combines commissions to both young and established composers. This time with music by Sun Ra, Terry Riley and a commissioned composition to the emerging Saskia Venegas Aernouts. Once again, this high-profile quartet presents impressive works that will stay with you for a long time.
Kronos Quartet lineup
David Harrington - violin
Gabriela Díaz - violin
Ayane Kozasa - viola
Paul Wiancko - cello
Program:
Sun Ra (arr. Jacob Garchik): Outer Spaceways Incorporated
Terry Riley: Good Medicine from Salome Dances for Peace
Soo Yeon Lyuh: Yessori (Sound from the Past)
Gabriella Smith: Selections from Keep Going
Saskia Venegas: Through Their Eyes (World Premiere)
This concert is a co-production of Music Meeting and Tivoli Vredenburg. Through their eyes is a production from talent development program Nieuwe Makers and is made possible by Fonds Podiumkunsten.
New Makers
Saskia Venegas Aernouts is going through an intensive talent development program called New Makers at Music Meeting. In 2024 and 2025, under the wings of the festival, she will work on her artistic and business development and the creation of two productions. David Harrington, violinist and founder of Kronos Quartet, is one of the coaches guiding her in this endeavor. The world premiere of her first work Ortzadar Sugea, a composition for flute, bass clarinet, didgeridoo, percussion and electronics, took place during Music Meeting Festival 2024. The New Makerstraject is made possible by Fonds Podiumkunsten.
