The 12 cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic are among the most prominent institutions in international musical life. In 1972, a radio production of Julius Klengel’s »Hymnus for Twelve Cellos« with members of the Philharmonic’s cello section provided the impetus for the founding of a soloist ensemble of this size, whose tonal and virtuoso qualities took concert audiences worldwide by storm.
Today, the 12 Cellists occupy an outstanding, unique position in international musical life. With their blend of seriousness and humor, depth and lightness, they have succeeded in captivating audiences of all ages. As ambassadors for Berlin, they have accompanied the German president on state visits. They have visited the Japanese Imperial Palace several times. Their CDs regularly appear in the charts and were awarded the “Echo Klassik” in 2001 and 2005.
The ensemble’s repertoire covers a wide range of genres, and so the 12 cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra are sure to be heard again in Hamburg with pieces by Maurice Ravel, the composer of Boléro, French jazz legend Michel Legrand, film music composer Ennio Morricone (Once Upon a Time in the West), Astor Piazzolla, the king of tango nuevo, and many more.
Whether classical, jazz, tango, or avant-garde, the sound of 12 cellos is always fascinating, producing a unique and multifaceted mixture of timbres.
PERFORMERS
Die 12 Cellisten der Berliner Philharmoniker ensemble
