This year marks the 50th anniversary of the legendary Kronos Quartet. To celebrate their 40th anniversary, it asked 50 composers from all over the world to compose a string quartet. Resulting in a library of 50 contemporary pieces: ’50 for the Future: The Kronos Learning Repertoire’. Designed to guide string quartets in developing and honing the skills required for the performance of 21st-century repertoire.

These 50 pieces reflect the rich sound of the world and together form an unprecedentedly versatile and up-to-date kaleidoscope of today’s string quartet. ‘Each piece is a real piece, a real investment in making a future in music possible’
– David Harrington, Kronos Quartet

Ragazze Quartet is honoured to be able to co-produce together with Kronos Quartet, String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam and Muziekgebouw the Kronos’ 50 For the Future weekend in Amsterdam.

For the first time ever all 50 pieces will be performed in 1 weekend, by 10 extraordinary string quartets.

Watch a documentary on the project, the composers, the quartets and the weekend on youtube via this links: episode 1, episode 2, episode 3 and episode 4.

Next to the concerts there will be talks, panels, workshops, a masterclass and speed dates. Even the youngest generation of quartets will occupy the stage, contributing new works that were written for So You Think You Can Write a Strijkkwartet?! – an educational project from the Ragazze Quartet and Stichting In de Knop. Students of the Sweelinck Academy (the talented youth of the Conservatory of Amsterdam) composed new work for their peers, who will perform these compositions during the weekend.
As an audience you can also witness all these special events.

Line-up string quartets:

Kronos Quartet – Ragazze Quartet – Attacca Quartet – Ruysdael Kwartet – PUBLIQuartet – Matangi Quartet – Belinfante Quartet – Signum Quartett – ADAM Quartet – Animato Kwartet – Leerorkest quartets – Sweelinck Academie