The 12 Cellists Of The Berliner Philharmoniker

The 12 cellists of the Berliner Philharmoniker know exactly how to arouse the curiosity of the widest possible audience with regard to classical music. The unmistakable range of their programs offers something for everyone: original works, many of them composed specifically for the ensemble, alternate with sophisticated arrangements of highlights from the popular repertoire, film hits, jazz, and tangos. All of this gets translated into the lush soundscape of the Berliner Philharmoniker’s cello section. No wonder this ensemble boasts fans all over the world and has even played several times for the Japanese emperor. This summer, we can bask in the “Fabulous Twelve” playing versions of blissful choral excerpts from Mendelssohn’s Elijah and the magnificent aria Je crois entendre encore from Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers. Shigeaki Saegusa’s Ragtime will have your toes tapping, and film lovers will get their money’s worth with the title songs from Basic Instinct, Catch Me If You Can, and Titanic. And when they play As Time Goes By, everyone’s heart melts. But the 12 Cellists can do other things as well: they’ll send us off into the balmy summer night with the tango rhythms of Astor Piazzolla.