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Foppe Schut

East of the Sun

Saskia Rao, Shubhendra Rao, Yan Jiemin, Zhao Yuachun, Cello Octet Amsterdam
Fri 6 Nov 14:00 - 15:00
Main Hall
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Fri 6 Nov
14:00 - 15:00
Add to cart

Three world premieres around the Cello Octet 

Program

Saskia Rao-de Haas Song of Water for sitar, Indian cello and octet 
Kayhan Kalhor New work (world premiere) 
Joël Bons New work (world premiere)

Performers

Cello Octet Amsterdam 
Saskia Rao-de Haas Indian cello 
Shubhendra Rao sitar 
De Atlas Band: 
Yan Jiemin erhu 
Zhao Yuanchun erhu
Naomi Sato sho
Raphaela Danksagmüller duduk 
Li Liangzi zheng 
Dani Luca cimbalom

With the Cello Octet as the common theme, different influences from all over the world come together. The Dutch-Indian Saskia Rao-de Haas arranged her orchestral work Song of Water for sitar, cello octet, and Indian cello: a smaller sized cello which is played seated on the floor. Kayhan Kalhor is one of today’s most influential contemporary composers and performers within Iranian classical music. In his music, he makes connections between Persian traditions, Kurdish folk music, and Western classical elements.  
 
In 2016, Joël Bons made a huge impression with his work Nomads for cello and the Atlas Ensemble. He was awarded the ‘Nobel Prize’ of music for it, the Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition. The successor of the piece is his lauded Atlas Orchestra Book, which he composed for 2025’s Holland Festival. In it, a prominent role was given to two Chinese erhu players. Together with the other musicians of The Atlas Band, they play a central role in the new composition.

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Saskia Rao-de Haas

Indiaase cello

Yan Jiemin

Erhu

Zhao Yanchun

Erhu

Shubhendra Rao

Sitar

Cello Octet Amsterdam

Cello Octet Amsterdam has been a regular guest at the Cello Biënnale since the first edition in 2006. The Cello Octet is an adventurous collective of cellists that specialises in new music and interdisciplinary performances. The Octet has become a renowned name in today’s contemporary music scene, in part thanks to collaborations with composers such as Philip Glass, Sofia Gubaidulina, Arvo Pärt, Theo Loevendie, Mauricio Kagel, Michael Gordon, and Kate Moore. After the premier of his first piece for the Octet, Arvo Pärt said: “The Octet is worth a fortune, I have discovered this ensemble 10 years too late.” The cellists of Cello Octet Amsterdam manifest not only as a close, world-class chamber music ensemble, but also as groundbreaking performers in shows such as Cellokrijgers (“Celo Warriors”), or as a rock band in Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Cello Band. Driven by the conviction that musicians are at the centre of society and carry the responsibility to contribute to social discussions, the Octet regularly enters unique collaborations with composers, theatre makers, choreographers, and social organisations. Their shows Instant Happiness and Instant Love (co-production with Via Berlin) focused on current topics such as consumerism in society and human trafficking, and the Octet has recently been exploring themes like diversity and migration. Together with the Cello Biënnale, the Cello Octet developed the education project ‘de Bestorming’.  
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