The 12 cellists

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The 12 cellists
Founding: 1972
Genre: Chamber music
Website: http://www.die12cellisten.de/
Founding members
Cello : Jörg Baumann, Wolfgang Boettcher , Ottomar Borwitzky, Eberhard Finke, Klaus Häussler, Christoph Kapler, Heinrich Majowski, Peter Steiner , Götz Teutsch, Alexander Wedow, Rudolf Weinsheimer, Gerhard Woschny
Current occupation
Cello : Bruno Delepelaire (since 2013), Richard Duven (since 1986), Rachel Helleur-Simcock (since 2009), Christoph Igelbrink (since 1989), Solène Kermarrec (since 2007), Stephan Koncz (since 2010), Martin Löhr (since 1996) , Olaf Maninger (since 1994), Martin Menking (since 1996), Ludwig Quandt (since 1991), David Riniker (since 1995), Nikolaus Römisch (since 2000), Dietmar Schwalke (since 1994), Knut Weber (since 1998)

Die 12 Cellisten (with full name also Die 12 Cellisten der Berliner Philharmoniker ) are a cello ensemble from Berlin , which consists of the members of the cello group of the Berliner Philharmoniker and mainly plays modern music. They are among the best known and most successful chamber music ensembles in the world.

history

Foundation and first steps

At the beginning of 1972, the editors of the ORF Salzburg asked the Berlin Philharmonic for a public radio recording of the work Hymnus by Julius Klengel for 12 cellos, which had long since been performed . The orchestra's cellists recorded the work on March 25, 1972 at the Mozarteum in Salzburg - with chamber music, without a conductor . The cellists liked this so much that they decided to expand the approach and (in addition to the undiminished work in the orchestra) perform as an independent ensemble. One of them, Rudolf Weinsheimer, took over the necessary organization and marketing.

One problem was initially that nothing of the original literature was known for the then completely new line-up apart from Klengel's hymn. A lucky coincidence (Weinsheimer took 15-year-old Tatjana Blacher with him as a hitchhiker) brought the cellists into contact with the composer Boris Blacher , who wrote the dance suite Blues - Espagnola - Rumba Philharmonica for twelve violoncellos solos for them . Together with works for smaller cello ensembles (including by David Funck and Heitor Villa-Lobos ), the 12 cellists were able to put together a first full-length program. After they had previously performed at other concerts, they gave their first concert on August 26, 1973 in Tokyo .

From the beginning, their appearances were an overwhelming success worldwide, were cheered by viewers and critics, so that it quickly became clear that the new ensemble should last.

Further development

Since they remained full-time orchestral musicians, the 12 cellists could (and can) only give concerts to a limited extent. But that never detracted from their success, on the contrary, made every single one of their appearances all the more desirable. They are also often invited to public occasions, such as accompanying the Federal President on trips abroad.

In 1991 the cello section of the Berliner Philharmoniker was expanded to 13, and in 2010 to 14 cellists; As an ensemble, however, the cellists continue to perform in groups of twelve, now in changing line-ups, with two of them taking a break.

In their early days the 12 cellists benefited from a practically constant line-up (in the first ten years there was only one change when Wolfgang Boettcher left the orchestra and was replaced by Jan Diesselhorst ). In the following years, however, fluctuation increased, and especially when Rudolf Weinsheimer retired in 1996, the continued existence of the ensemble was temporarily questioned until Martin Menking agreed to continue the organization. From here on one can speak of the second generation of the 12 cellists. Götz Teutsch left the ensemble in 2006 as the last founding member.

repertoire

To date, over 50 compositions have been dedicated to the 12 cellists (including by Wolfgang Rihm , Jean Françaix , Iannis Xenakis , Sofia Gubaidulina and many more), so that they have long had no problems putting together a concert program.

Also, take in their concerts and even more so to the younger CDs now also arrangement of works of popular music a larger space one. While the 12 cellists initially played such arrangements primarily as an encore , in later years they also tried their hand at specific genres, such as tango , chanson or film music . A helpful partner for the 12 cellists was the composer Wilhelm Kaiser-Lindemann , who arranged countless works from various genres for them; for excursions into jazz , the 12 cellists also worked with jazz musicians such as Till Brönner and Jocelyn B. Smith .

Inspired followers

The great success of the 12 cellists has inspired many other musicians. This has resulted in numerous pure cello ensembles around the world, but mostly in smaller formations of four, six or eight members; The rock band Apocalyptica should also be mentioned in this context. In some places, orchestral sections of other instruments tried to form independent ensembles; however, none of these ensembles has so far been able to build on the success of the 12 cellists.

At the suggestion of Rudolf Weinsheimer in particular, the concert of 1000 cellists has been held in Japan since 1998 , which has developed into an international music event.

Members

Founding members

  • Jörg Baumann (* 1940 in Berlin; † 1995 there). Has been a member of the Berliner Philharmoniker since 1966 and solo cellist from 1976 to 1995.
  • Wolfgang Boettcher (* 1935 in Berlin); studied with Richard Klemm and Maurice Gendron. Was a member of the Berliner Philharmoniker since 1958 and solo cellist from 1963 to 1976 before he accepted the call to the Hochschule der Künste and built an extremely successful master class there.
  • Ottomar Borwitzky (* 1930 in Hamburg); studied with Bernhard Günther , Arthur Troester and Paul Grümmer. From 1956 to 1993 he was the first solo cellist of the Berlin Philharmonic.
  • Eberhard Finke (* 1920 in Bremen; † 2016); studied with Ludwig Hoelscher and Enrico Mainardi. From 1950 to 1985 he was the first principal cellist of the Berlin Philharmonic.
  • Klaus Häussler (* 1929 in Levenhagen; † October 1, 2012 in Berlin); studied with Walter Schulz and Adolf Steiner. Was a member of the Berliner Philharmoniker from 1963 to 1995.
  • Christoph Kapler (* 1933 in Eberswalde; † September 21, 2010); studied with Arthur Troester and Siegfried Palm . Was a member of the Berliner Philharmoniker from 1961 to 1998.
  • Heinrich Majowski (* 1923 in Herne, † 1991 in Berlin); was a member of the Berlin Philharmonic from 1950 to 1989.
  • Peter Steiner (* 1928 in Berlin; † February 6, 2003 there); studied with Adolf Steiner. Was a member of the Berliner Philharmoniker from 1948 to 1994 under Wilhelm Furtwängler, Herbert von Karajan and Claudio Abbado.
  • Götz Teutsch (* 1941 in Sibiu, Romania); Principal cellist in Bucharest, 1970–2006 Berliner Philharmoniker, principal from 1976, last remaining founding member.
  • Alexander Wedow (* 1933); studied with Gerhard Stenzel and Richard Klemm. Was a member of the Berliner Philharmoniker from 1962 to 1999.
  • Rudolf Weinsheimer (* 1931 in Wiesbaden); studied with his father and Karl Drebert. Was a member of the Berliner Philharmoniker from 1956 to 1996. It is thanks to his initiative and zest for action that the 12 cellists were founded.
  • Gerhard Woschny (* 1922 in Meißen; † March 1, 2008 in Bad Reichenhall); studied with Karl Grosch from the Staatskapelle Dresden. Was a member of the Berliner Philharmoniker from 1951 to 1985.

Current members

  • Bruno Delepelaire (* 1989 in France); Member since 2013
  • Richard Duven (* 1958 in Cologne); Member since 1986
  • Rachel Helleur-Simcock (* 1980 in Great Britain); Member since 2009
  • Christoph Igelbrink (* 1958 in Düsseldorf); Member since 1989
  • Solène Kermarrec (* 1983 in Brest); Member since 2007
  • Stephan Koncz (* 1984 in Vienna); Member since 2010
  • Martin Löhr (* 1967 in Hamburg); Member since 1996
  • Olaf Maninger (* 1964 in Recklinghausen); Member since 1994
  • Martin Menking (* 1967 in Münster); Member since 1996
  • Ludwig Quandt (* 1961 in Ulm); Member since 1991
  • David Riniker (* 1970 in Basel); Member since 1995
  • Nikolaus Römisch (* 1972 in Berlin); Member since 2000
  • Dietmar Schwalke (* 1958 in Pinneberg); Member since 1994
  • Knut Weber (* 1974 in Klagenfurt); Member since 1998

Other members

  • Jan Diesselhorst (* 1954 in Marburg; † February 5, 2009); Member from 1976 to 2009
  • Georg Faust (* 1956 in Cologne); Member from 1985 to 2011

Discography

  • 1976: The 12 cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic
  • 1983: Classic Meets Pops
  • 1983: The Beatles in Classic
  • 2000: South American Getaway
  • 2002: Round Midnight
  • 2004: As Time Goes By
  • 2006: Angel Dances
  • 2010: Fleur de Paris
  • 2016: Hora Cero

literature

  • Wolfgang Stresemann : The twelve: from the triumphal march of the 12 cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic . 2nd supplemented edition. Atlantis music book, Zurich 1990, ISBN 3-254-00159-1 .
  • Klaus Wallendorf: Always having trouble with the cello. Declaration of love from a stray French horn player to the bowing colleagues. Galiani Berlin, Cologne 2012, ISBN 978-3-86971-055-6 .

Web links