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Saskia Rao De Haas

Cello Artist

Saskia Rao De Haas
   Biography
‘On January 24, 2003, the Doverlane Music conference, one of the most prestigious annual festivals in North Indian Music, presented a female Western musician playing a western instrument for the first time in its 51-year old history….Saskia Rao-de Haas’ alap exposition was revelatory, with the faster tempo the icing on the cake.’  Excerpts from the book,  “The Dawn of Indian Music in the West” by Peter Lavezolli.

Saskia Rao - de Haas is a brilliant cellist from the Netherlands. She is a pioneer in the world of music for introducing her Indian cello to North Indian classical music.  Critics and audiences alike have praised her for her artistic depth and technical virtuosity. Speaking about Saskia, Flute maestro Hariprasad Chaurasia recently said in a TV interview: “She has been taught by God and everyone should listen to her music”.

Saskia modified her cello to suit the requirements of Indian music, based on a comparative study of Indian string instruments and western baroque instruments. Her Indian cello is smaller in size than its western counterpart and has 1 additional playing string and 10 sympathetic strings to give the cello a new dimension. Her unique playing style enables her to bring out the subtleties and the embellishments characteristic of north Indian classical music. She has invented new techniques for the cello that allow her to nurture its inherent closeness to the human voice and explore unrestrained all its possibilities.      

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Saskia Rao De Haas
Saskia Rao De Haas
Saskia Rao - De Haas - Indian Cello player
Saskia Rao - De Haas - Indian Cello player
Saskia Rao
Saskia Rao
Saskia Roa performing in concert
Saskia Roa performing in concert
Saskia Rao with Shubhendra Rao
Saskia Rao with Shubhendra Rao
Indian Cello
Indian Cello
   Career
Saskia has performed all over India in prestigious festivals for Indian classical music such as the Legends of India in New Delhi, Vasanta habbha in Bangalore, the Maihar festival, Haridas sangeet samelan in Lucknow and many others. She has toured extensively through North America, Europe and Asia and played in many of the Worlds leading theatre halls and festivals, like the Concertgebouw and Tropical institute in Amsterdam, National Arts Festival of South Africa, New Directions cello festival in the US, musee Guimet in Paris and Esplanade in Singapore. Her recent performance at the Edinburgh festival was described as a ‘work of outstanding originality’.

Apart from Indian music; she performs Western classical, Avant Garde and folk music and is an accomplished composer.She created music for various ensembles, dance, film and theatre. She is the founder of the Raga Mala String Quartet and composes music for this ensemble that combines Indian Music with Western musical concepts. Her varied experiences include collaborations with South Indian musicians, Jazz musicians, Klezmer, Flamenco and other European folk musicians.  Saskia has recorded with International record labels and is currently working on a new album, to be released in India next year. 

Saskia has conducted workshops and lecture-demonstrations at universities, conservatories and festivals in Europe and North America. She is currently doing a PhD at the University of Amsterdam on Innovation in Indian Music and has published in musicological magazines These rich experiences have won her a unique place in the field of world music.
   Programs

Saskia Rao De Haas presents Parideva - from Bach to Bhupali

A touching rendering by Saskia Rao de Haas on Indian cello and Ruth Philips on baroque cello. Parideva is a part of the unique program 'from Bach to Bhupali, conceived by Saskia Rao and Ruth Philips. 'From Bach to Bhupali' features two unique artists who have pioneered new playing styles and techniques for the cello. Parideva is a very emotional rendering is melodically based on the South Indian raga Kirwani in d minor.
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