For the first time in Lithuania – one of the most famous cello groups in the world, CELLO OCTET AMSTERDAM

On October 25, the National Philharmonic will host one of the most influential and renowned cello ensembles in the world for the first time in Lithuania – Cello Octet Amsterdam. The eight-cellist ensemble, which has earned international acclaim for its innovative programs and collaborates with the most prominent contemporary composers, will present an exclusive concert featuring premieres in Lithuania and music by the legendary Japanese composer and pianist Ryuichi Sakamoto. After the premiere of his first work for this ensemble, the famous composer Arvo Pärt uttered words that are very often quoted about this group: "This octet is worth its weight in gold. I discovered them ten years too late."

Active for nearly four decades since 1989, Cello Octet Amsterdam is one of the most prominent names in contemporary music worldwide. The ensemble has collaborated with iconic composers such as Philip Glass, Arvo Pärt, David Lang, Michael Gordon, as well as Sarah Davachi, Kate Moore, Nyokabi Kariũki, and many other creators. The collective has performed in the world's most famous concert halls – Amsterdam's Concertgebouw and Muziekgebouw, London's Wigmore Hall and Royal Albert Hall (at the BBC Proms festival), and has also toured in the USA, Mexico, Brazil, Spain, Germany, Canada, and other countries, as well as in Central and South America, Asia, and the Middle East.

The ensemble's mastery is also admired by the famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who called the ensemble "a true treasure" and one of the best examples for the entire music world. "Wherever I perform – in Brazil, Japan, or the United States – I hear people talking about Cello Octet Amsterdam everywhere," Yo-Yo Ma emphasized regarding the importance and fame of the collective.

Over the years, the collective has masterfully mastered the ability to immerse itself in the most diverse sound worlds and has proven that the possibilities of the cello far exceed the boundaries of a traditional chamber ensemble. Their repertoire combines contemporary music, electronics-inspired projects, theatrical elements, and interdisciplinary performances. For example, in the program "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Cello Band," the octet recreates the entire sound palette of the legendary The Beatles album; in the project "Cocon," they create a sound inspired by experimental electronic music; and in performances dedicated to families, the musicians also become theatrical performers.

Believing that musicians are an inseparable part of society, the ensemble collaborates with creators from various fields and explores such relevant topics as consumerism, human trafficking, loneliness, and climate change in their work.