The Cellist of Sarajevo Charlene Scott of member station WFCR reports on the music and performances of Vedran Smajlovic. In the spring of 1992, a mortar shell hit a bread line in Sarajevo, killing 22 people. The next day, Smajlovic put on his work clothes - black tie and tails - and took his cello to the bomb crater and played Albinoni's Adagio. He continued to play one day for each of the dead. After that, he played at sites of bombings throughout Sarajevo. He became a hero and a legend but he's very bitter at being forced to flee his homeland. He now lives in Northern Ireland and has just finished his first CD, which will be released this fall.

The Cellist of Sarajevo Only Available in Archive Formats. Real Media The Cellist of Sarajevo The Cellist of Sarajevo The Cellist of Sarajevo Only Available in Archive Formats. Real Media Charlene Scott of member station WFCR reports on the music and performances of Vedran Smajlovic. In the spring of 1992, a mortar shell hit a bread line in Sarajevo, killing 22 people. The next day, Smajlovic put on his work clothes - black tie and tails - and took his cello to the bomb crater and played Albinoni's Adagio. He continued to play one day for each of the dead. After that, he played at sites of bombings throughout Sarajevo. He became a hero and a legend but he's very bitter at being forced to flee his homeland. He now lives in Northern Ireland and has just finished his first CD, which will be released this fall. NPR thanks our sponsors Become an NPR sponsor