As the Arts Beat informs while the San Francisco-based Kronos Quartet prepared for a European tour, beginning on Thursday in Athens, its bags became a little heavier on Tuesday with two major awards.

Kronos will receive the Avery Fisher Prize (which carries a cash grant of $75,000), awarded in New York to individuals or chamber ensembles for outstanding achievement and excellence in music, as well as the Polar Music Prize (with a cash grant of about $166,000), awarded in Stockholm, also intended to recognize exceptional achievement in music.

The Polar award will be given on Aug. 30, when a similar award will be given to the singer and songwriter Patti Smith. To make the ceremony really interesting, the Swedes should stipulate that the winners have to perform together. These particular artists would probably enjoy it!

MV

Arts Beat