For the First Time in Lithuania – CELLO OCTET AMSTERDAM

On October 25, one of the world’s most influential and acclaimed cello ensembles, Cello Octet Amsterdam, will perform in Lithuania for the first time at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic.

The eight-cellist ensemble has earned international recognition for its innovative programmes and collaborations with leading contemporary composers. Their Vilnius concert will feature Lithuanian premieres as well as music by legendary Japanese composer and pianist Ryuichi Sakamoto.

After the premiere of the first work he wrote for the ensemble, renowned composer Arvo Pärt described them with words that have since become closely associated with the octet: “This octet is worth its weight in gold. I discovered them ten years too late.”

Founded in 1989, Cello Octet Amsterdam has become one of the most prominent names in contemporary music. The ensemble has collaborated with renowned composers including Philip Glass, Arvo Pärt, David Lang and Michael Gordon, as well as Sarah Davachi, Kate Moore, Nyokabi Kariũki and many others. They have performed in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls.

Over nearly four decades, the ensemble has explored an extraordinary variety of musical worlds, demonstrating that the possibilities of the cello extend far beyond the traditional chamber-music setting. Their repertoire combines contemporary music, electronically inspired projects, theatrical elements and interdisciplinary performances. In Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Cello Band, for example, the octet recreates the entire sonic palette of the legendary The Beatles album. In Cocon, they explore experimental electronic-inspired sounds, while in family performances the musicians also take on theatrical roles.

Believing that musicians are an integral part of society, Cello Octet Amsterdam collaborates with artists from different disciplines and addresses contemporary issues such as consumerism, human trafficking, loneliness and climate change through its artistic projects.

A special focus of the Vilnius concert will be the music of Japanese composer, pianist and artist Ryuichi Sakamoto. Described by Nikkei Asia as “the best-known and most successful Japanese musician in the world”, Sakamoto first rose to fame as a member of the synth-pop group Yellow Magic Orchestra. His artistic career later expanded into experimental electronic music, classical composition, visual arts and sound installations.

Sakamoto became particularly renowned for his film scores, composing music for more than 30 films over nearly five decades, including Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, The Last Emperor, The Sheltering Sky and The Revenant. His work earned him an Academy Award, Grammy Award, BAFTA Award and two Golden Globe Awards.

In his later years, Sakamoto increasingly focused on the sounds of nature, the passage of time and the fragility of life. These themes were closely connected with his environmental activism and his belief that music, nature and humanity are inseparable.

For their Vilnius performance, Cello Octet Amsterdam has brought together the diverse facets of Sakamoto’s musical world into a unified suite, arranged by René van Munster, bringing together different periods and styles of the composer’s remarkable career.