Composer George Crumb's 1970 work, "Black Angels," is likely the only string quartet composition that can claim it was inspired by the Vietnam War. Recently re-envisioned by Carnegie Mellon's director of orchestral studies, Juan Pablo Izquierdo, "Black Angels"—as well as Izquierdo's version of another Crumb composition, "Makrokosmos III"—won the French Diapason d'Or Award, one of the most prestigious awards in classical music. Other recipients include Claudio Arrau, a Chilean pianist of world fame, and the Berlin Philharmonic.
—ELIZABETH MAY
