Cello Octet Amsterdam is an adventurous collective of cellists that represents new music and interdisciplinary performances. The Octet has become a household name in the contemporary music world, through collaborations with composers such as Philip Glass, Sarah Davachi, Arvo Pärt, Nyokabi Kariũki, David Lang and Kate Moore. After the premiere of his first piece for the Octet, Arvo Pärt said: “The Octet is worth its weight in gold. I discovered this ensemble 10 years too late.”
The cellists have revealed themselves to be a close-knit, world-class chamber music ensemble and have become expert at diving deep into different sonic worlds. In Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Cello Band, they embody the full sonic spectrum presented on the iconic Beatles album while in Cocon, they shape their collective sound to occupy the unique world of experimental electronic music. Reaching beyond sound alone, the Octet shift their roles from musicians to theatrical performers in their production, Cellogang.
Based on the belief that musicians are at the heart of society, the Octet often puts existential questions at the center of its productions and regularly enters into special collaborations with composers, theater makers, choreographers, and social organizations. The ‘Instant’ triptych (co-produced with Via Berlin) dealt with current topics such as consumer society, human trafficking, and loneliness, and Coda is a performance about climate change.
