Rohan de Saram, former cellist of the Arditti Quartet, will perform works by Bach, Berio, Wellesz, Rusconi, Rogl, and Berauer on 27 November at the Austrian Cultural Forum London.

De Saram on Sequenza XIV:

I feel very honoured that Maestro Berio wrote this work for me. I feel also great sorrow that we did not have the opportunity to meet in August 2003, as planned, in order to finalise technical details. His last words to me were, “See you in August!"

Part of the inspiration for Sequenza XIV came from Luciano's interest in the Kandyan drum rhythms of Sri Lanka, Kandy being the ancient capital of Ceylon, the Sri Lanka of today. Several times after my performances of Il Ritorno degli Snovidenia, with Maestro Berio conducting, he wanted to know about the musical instruments of the country I came from, Sri Lanka, particularly the Kandyan drum which I have played myself since I was a boy. [...]

Read the full text.

Find out more on the website of the Austrian Cultural Forum London. The event is free, but seating is limited.

Luciano Berio: Sequenza XIV
for violoncello | 13'
Egon Wellesz: Sonate
for violoncello
27.11.2013, Austrian Cultural Forum London; Rohan de Saram, vc