Kronos quartet + Allison Russell | a hard Rain

This event is free and open to the public.

We stand at one of the most dangerous moments in human history. As global tensions rise and arms treaties expire, the possibility for nuclear weapon use, intentional or otherwise, is the highest it has been in decades. The world is only ever fifteen minutes from catastrophe, but these perils are largely absent from the public consciousness.

On the 80th anniversary of the world’s first nuclear weapon test, Kronos Quartet, with a guest appearance from singer-songwriter Allison Russell, will perform a stirring musical journey interwoven with spoken-word stories of nuclear near-misses and moments that almost ended the world. This event, closing the Nobel Laureate Assembly for the Prevention of Nuclear War, invites you to reflect on the past, present, and future of nuclear risk.

The Assembly seeks to restart the conversation on mitigating nuclear danger by crafting a set of policy recommendations endorsed by dozens of Nobel laureates and nuclear security experts. These recommendations will be announced on the afternoon of July 16th following three days of closed-door sessions.

In parallel, Kronos Quartet, together with over 30 artists from around the world, will release a sweeping new rendition of Bob Dylan’s prophetic anthem, A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall—a global call for peace and to raise awareness of the growing risk of nuclear war.

Kronos Quartet

For 50 years, San Francisco’s Kronos Quartet—David Harrington (violin), Gabriela Díaz (violin), Ayane Kozasa (viola), and Paul Wiancko (cello)—has challenged and reimagined what a string quartet can be. With its roots in the Vietnam War–inspired Black Angels, Kronos has spent five decades centering its work around the key issues of our time. Motivated by the idea that music should be in constant, evolving interaction with the world, Kronos has commissioned, performed, and recorded works that engage with topics such as war and destruction, the climate crisis, social injustice, and existence and spirituality.

The ensemble has an expansive discography, including three Grammy-winning albums, and their music has featured prominently in a number of films. Kronos has sold over four million albums—more than any other string quartet in history.

“Stunning Virtuosos” — The Guardian

“New Players, Newly Lustrous Sound”… “a newfound emotional intensity”…“heart-on-sleeve directness” — The New York Times

“The world’s most innovative string quartet” — The Economist

Allison Russell

Grammy-winning artist Allison Russell is a weaver of stories and tales through the medium of music. Since the release of her first solo album three years ago, the self-taught singer, songwriter, poet, activist, and multi-instrumentalist has redefined what artistry means in the 21st century. From her devastatingly moving celebration of survivors’ joy through Outside Child to the body-shaking, mind-expanding, soulful expression of Black liberation that is The Returner, Russell’s music exceeds all reasonable (and unreasonable) expectations and affirms her place among today’s most vital artists.

Various honors include her Grammy win for Best American Roots Performance, the Juno Award for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year, the Americana Music Association’s 2023 Spirit of Americana Award & 2022 Album of the Year Award, two International Folk Music Awards, three Canadian Folk Music Awards, and four UK Americana Music Awards.

“But above all, her songs testify to the sheer human capacity for resilience: our capacity to transcend our darkest times if we hold on, reach out to one another and seek out art that helps console.” — The New York Times