Nonesuch Records releases Kronos Quartet’s Music of Vladimir Martynov on January 10, 2012. The album includes three works written or rescored for Kronos by the contemporary Russian composer Vladimir Martynov—The Beatitudes, Schubert–Quintet (Unfinished), and Der Abschied—and features a special guest performance from former Kronos cellist Joan Jeanrenaud. Kronos’ artistic director and founder David Harrington says Martynov’s music “straddles various points of musical history and time; the music seems to me to reflect and absorb humanity in such a beautiful way." The album is available for pre-order.

Kronos Quartet will take part in a weeklong residency at Syracuse University that gets under way today. It will include workshops, a screening of Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream with a post-screening Q&A, and a concert featuring Steve Reich's WTC 9/11 and the world premiere of Douglas Quin's Polar Suite. The piece incorporates soundscape recordings from the polar regions of the earth and outer space, processed samples, plus interactive electronics involving the K-Bow Bluetooth Sensor Bow designed by Keith McMillen.

Kronos Quartet gives the NY premiere of Awakening: A Musical Meditation on the Anniversary of 9/11 for the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)'s 2011 Next Wave Festival, with four consecutive nights of performances starting tonight. Congratulations to Kronos fan Ross Burlingame, winner of the Nonesuch ticket giveaway to tonight's show. Kronos Quartet gave a preview of the show when they performed live on WNYC's Soundcheck earlier this week. Listen to the performances and interview here.

Kronos Quartet will give the New York premiere of Awakening: A Musical Meditation on the Anniversary of 9/11, for the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)'s 2011 Next Wave Festival, with four consecutive nights of performances this week. Kronos and Nonesuch Records have partnered with BAM to give away a pair of tickets to the Opening Night performance this Wednesday. Enter here for your chance to see the first New York performance. Kronos Quartet performs live on WNYC's Soundcheck today at 2 PM ET.

Kronos Quartet received the Polar Music Prize in a ceremony at the Stockholm Concert Hall last week, along with their fellow laureate, Patti Smith. "Music is one of humanity's most essential resources—the 'greenest' of substances—here one moment, a memory the next," said Kronos artistic director David Harrington in the group's acceptance speech. "The greatest piece has yet to be written, the most perfect note has yet to be played." Read the complete text of the speech and see several photos from the ceremony here.

Nonesuch releases Steve Reich’s album WTC 9/11 on September 20, 2011. Commissioned for and recorded by Kronos Quartet, the title piece will be available for digital purchase on September 6. The album also includes Reich’s Mallet Quartet, performed by Sō Percussion, and Dance Patterns, featuring members of Steve Reich and Musicians, as well as a DVD with a live performance of Mallet Quartet by Sō Percussion. The full album may be pre-ordered now in the Nonesuch Store, where CD orders include a free download of the title piece starting September 6 and the complete album starting September 20.

Kronos Quartet will receive the Polar Music Prize in a ceremony at the Stockholm Concert Hall on Tuesday. King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden will hand out the awards to Kronos and their fellow laureate, Patti Smith. The ceremony is part of a week-long celebration, which includes a photo exhibit, talks with the artists, a music industry conference, and the Polar Music Prize Concert featuring Smith. Earlier this year, Kronos received the prestigious Avery Fisher Prize, making the group the first-ever recipient of both prizes.

Composer Steve Reich comments on his forthcoming Nonesuch Records release, featuring his piece WTC 9/11, performed by Kronos Quartet, and the album cover.

Kronos Quartet will give the NY premiere of Awakening: A Musical Meditation on the Anniversary of 9/11, for the Brooklyn Academy of Music's 2011 Next Wave Festival, with four nights of performances at the BAM Harvey Theatre, September 21–24, featuring special guests the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, conducted by Dianne Berkun. Watch a preview video here. Next Wave Season Tickets are on sale to the general public now.

Kronos Quartet will be the featured guests on CBC radio arts program Q Wednesday morning. Kronos will be joined on the program by pipa virtuoso Wu Man, who also joins the group in the fourth and final concert of its residency at the Luminato Festival in Toronto Wednesday night. The concert features the Canadian premiere of the multimedia piece A Chinese Home. The Toronto Star says of Sunday's free outdoor concert from Kronos: "This is what makes Luminato special."

Kronos Quartet begins its residency at the Luminato Festival in Toronto today. The residency features four concerts reflecting the Quartet's global musical journey. Kronos is "one of the world's finest—and definitely most adventurous—chamber ensembles," says the Toronto Star. "Every one of their nearly four-dozen albums—which have earned every industry award imaginable—have introduced their growing legion of fans and audiences to a new piece of a global musical puzzle."

Kronos Quartet was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Prize, which recognizes outstanding achievement and excellence in music, in a ceremony held last night at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. As the recipient of this honor, Kronos receives a monetary award of $75,000. At last night’s ceremony, Nonesuch Records President Robert Hurwitz spoke of the label’s relationship with Kronos, now three decades strong, and the group’s unique contributions to the world of music. Read the full text of his speech here.