Ruth Leon recommends… Kronos Quartet – Mahsa Vahdat

Kronos Quartet – Mahsa Vahdat

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January 27 – February 2

 The Los Angeles Times has described the Kronos Quartet, somewhat hyperbolically, as “the most far-ranging ensemble geographically, nationally, and stylistically the world has known”. In this Cal Performances at Home streaming presentation they return with the newest edition of their 50 for the Future project.

This ongoing multiyear project features new works by an international and diverse group of composers, made available online with the goal of training students and emerging professionals in contemporary approaches to string quartet music. This concert features new works by Terry Riley and Cal Performances’ artist-in-residence, Angélique Kidjo.

For the second half of the concert, Kronos is joined by Mahsa Vahdat, a prominent performer of Persian vocal music who has previously collaborated with the quartet. This concert features melodies Vahdat composed to classical poems by Hafez and Rumi, as well as contemporary texts by Iranian poets.

If you’re not familiar with Mahsa Vahdat she is a voice that is definitely worth your time. The LA Times describes her as “an alluring, descriptive singer….The sheer seductiveness of her voice and style proved compelling”. And Kronos, of course, is always worth hearing.

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