"If there is such a thing as Nirvana, these musicians will make their way there!"
-London Times

"Romantic, ingratiating harmonies convey beauty and melancholy. In addition, there is their security of intonation, dynamic flexibility and infectious joy in playing. In brief: the Twelve Cellists seem to be led by a single hand."
-Leipziger Volkszeitung

"Each is a master of his art, and each takes on leading parts, while also having to toil over accompaniment figures. Twelve sworn soloists playing together - its simply spellbinding, and on such evenings, glowing stars seem to fall from the heavens."
-Freie Presse

 

 

They are unique. Naturally, every symphony orchestra has its cello section. But nowhere else in the world have the deeper, larger strings joined together to form an independent ensemble - an orchestra within an orchestra - meeting with success after success. That is why every music lover knows immediately where the "12 Cellists" come from, even if they cannot name their orchestra. They are an institution.

 

They have played together since 1972, appearing as an ensemble, occasionally in Berlin, often elsewhere, and quite often travelling great distances. Even their premiere concert, with its evening-long program, took place not in Berlin, but instead in Tokyo, the Japanese capital, a city with which they are still closely associated.

 

The group's personnel has changed over the years; founders have entered retirement, and younger colleagues have also moved on. Continuity and renewal have formed a productive alliance in the history of the 12 Cellists - as you can hear for yourselves.

 

 

Ludwig Quandt
David Riniker
Bruno Delepelaire
Christoph Igelbrink
Solène Kermarrec
Stephan Koncz
Martin Löhr
Martin Menking
Olaf Maninger
Dietmar Schwalke
Knut Weber
Nikolaus Römisch

 

1. David Funck Suite 7'

2. Gabriel Fauré Pavane op 50 (arr. Wilh. Kaiser-Lindemann) 6'

3. Dmitri Schostakowitsch Waltz No 2 (arr. David Riniker) 4'

4. Herman Hupfeld As time goes by (arr. Wilh. Kaiser-Lindemann) 4'

5. James Horner Titanic (arr. Wilh. Kaiser-Lindemann) 5'

6. George Shearing Lullaby of Birdland (arr. Wilh. Kaiser-Lindemann) 5'

7. J. Tiziol, D. Ellington Caravan (arr. Wilh. Kaiser-Lindemann) 5'

- Intermission - 20'

 

8. Heitor Villa-Lobos Bachianas Brasilieras No 1 18'
Ⅰ Introduction (Embolada)
Ⅱ Preludio (Modinha)
Ⅲ Fugue (Conversa)

9. W. Kaiser-Lindemann The 12 in Bossa Nova 5'

10. Jorge Ben Mas que nada (arr. Valter Despalj) 3'

11. Astor Piazzolla Decarisimo (arr. David Riniker) 4'

12. Astor Piazzolla Fuga y misterio (arr. José Carli)5'