With his extraordinary stage presence and distinctive understanding of sound, South African cellist Abel Selaocoe captivated the audience at the Rheingau Music Festival in Eberbach Abbey. He combines his own works with compositions by Giovanni Sollima – always driven by the desire to connect musical worlds.
Selaocoe understands the cello not only as a classical instrument, but as a universal resonating body that incorporates voice, body and rhythm. Improvisation, overtone singing and body percussion merge with the warm, powerful sound of the cello to create an experience that defies categorisation. Together with the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra and percussionist Sidiki Dembélé, he creates soundscapes in which European classical music and African traditions meet.
The musician, who grew up in South Africa and trained in the United Kingdom, is considered a cross-border artist between cultures and genres. His concerts are journeys into musical intermediate worlds – inspired by the question of what home means and how music can build bridges. In the historic setting of the Romanesque cloister of Eberbach Abbey, this open-air concert becomes a special highlight of the festival: a dialogue of contrasts that brings the world a little closer together.
Recorded on 19 July 2025.
The full concert on the ARTE-Mediathek.
With:
Cello and vocals: Abel Selaocoe
Percussion: Sidiki Dembélé
Cello: Nikolaus von Bülow
And the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra conducted by Rakhi Singh
Director: Andreas Morell
Editing: Nina Mühlenkamp
Camera: Hans Jakobi
Editor: Birgit Lorbeer-Claussen
A production by 3B-Produktion GmbH
On behalf of ZDF
In cooperation with ARTE
