The Kronos Quartet has released its first new work from isolation: Aleksandra Vrebalov’s ’ANTENNAE: a fragment’. The digital world premiere features vocalist Monk Hierotheos from the Serbian Orthodox Kovilj Monastery in northern Serbia.
’ANTENNAE’ was to receive its world premiere on 27 March, but it was cancelled owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. In response, Vrebalov created an adaptation and arrangement of a short fragment of the piece in the first week of April, while in home isolation in Novi Sad, Serbia. This collaborative video means that ANTENNAE receives its world premiere just 18 days behind schedule.
‘We had no experience recording or filming ourselves,’ wrote Kronos violinst David Harrington. ’We played our instruments alone in our separate homes and tried to imagine and remember our group. We couldn’t hear each other or see each other. We needed proof that our work could continue. Aleksandra, Monk Hierotheos, and Jovan are in Serbia. We are in San Francisco. Aleksandra’s ANTENNAE fragment receives its world premiere in a different way from any piece we have ever played. Within the strangeness of now, there is energy and glimmers of light. We are grateful to our staff and the community of music lovers. With much help, we can move forward.’
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