The 12 Cellists of the Berliner Philharmoniker: 40th Anniversary Concert

It has often been said that the cello is the most human of instruments—that in both its range and timbre, it comes closer than any other instrument to the sound of the human voice. Whether or not that holds true for all listeners may be subjective, but it is uncontestable that since 1972, the 12 Cellists of the Berliner Philharmoniker have been a prominent and beloved fixture on the international music scene, regularly selling out prestigious venues with crowds beguiled by the unique sounds of the cello.

In 2012, the dynamic dozen—plus some very special guests, including soprano Annette Dasch and trumpeter Till Brönner—marked 40 years since their first spectacular concert together by reuniting at the Berlin Philharmonie to play a selection of their most popular arrangements, plus a few new additions to the repertoire. Whether they’re lending their exceptional talents to classical music, jazz, tango, or the Beatles, listeners are always enchanted by the wide range of timbres and the incredible stylistic variations that these twelve cellos can produce.