12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (8 CDs) WARNER CLASSICS

A new dimension of cello playing: the 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, who gave their debut in Tokyo, not Berlin, and who have enjoyed the adoration of a global fan club ever since. In brilliant arrangements, the 1978–2010 albums document all the facets of the instrument’s technical range in breathtaking and sensuous cello works from Bach to the Beatles, from film hits to chansons and jazz, and from South American music to the avant-garde style of the likes of Iannis Xenakis, who wrote original compositions that are tailor-made for the ensemble’s virtuoso fingers. This box contains eight bestseller albums brought together in this format for the first time.

An ensemble of string players drawn from one of the top orchestras goes independent. Nothing unusual in that really, yet in the case of the 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra it was a sensation: one year after its foundation the group gave its first full-length concert in 1973 featuring a sizzling spectacle of tremendous cello pieces – and not in Berlin, but in Tokyo. A new dimension of cello playing was born that has since attracted millions of fans. Now comes the release of the eight top albums by this “Berlin dozen” from the years 1978–2010, compiled for the first time in one single box and including a CD premiere.

Amid their enthusiasm for the project, the twelve top cellists were faced with one problem: there was virtually no repertoire for an ensemble of this formation. So clever arrangers have provided the material for their concert programmes and delivered the repertoire for their eight albums to date: Beatles melodies, music from South America, film hits, chansons and jazz. Top-flight guest artists were happy to accept the invitation to join the twelve musicians – artists like Till Brönner, Arleen Augér, Juliane Banse, Max Raabe and Simon Rattle. Composers of the avant-garde contributed no end of original compositions specially written for the 12, including Iannis Xenakis’s Windungen and Wilhelm Kaiser-Lindemann’s Brazilian variations Die 12 in Bossa-nova.

In its 40+-year history the ensemble has experienced changes in its formation and even recorded one of the most famous original works, Villa-Lobos’s Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5, twice (in 1981 and 1999). This box therefore reflects the history of one of the most outstanding classical music ensembles. It should be mentioned that the second album by the 12 Cellists, from 1981, is released with this box for the first time in its entirety on CD.

CD 1 Fleur de Paris (2010)
1 Sous Les Ponts de Paris – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
2 Pavane – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
3 Pigalle – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
4 Que Reste T-Il de Nos Amours – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
5 Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
6 Une Femme Est Une Femme – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
7 Fleur de Paris – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
8 Clair de Lune – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
9 La Vie en Rose – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
10 Sous Le Ciel de Paris – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
11 Gymnopedie No.1 – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
12 Figure Humaine: de Tous Les Printemps Du Monde – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
13 Figure Humaine: en Chantant Les Servantes S’élancent – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
14 Figure Humaine: Aussi Bas Que Le Silence – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
15 Figure Humaine: Toi Ma Patiente Ma Patience Ma Parente – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
16 Figure Humaine: Riant Du Ciel Et Des Planetes – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
17 Figure Humaine: Le Jour M’étonne Et la Nuit Me Fait Peur – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
18 Figure Humaine: La Menace Sous Le Ciel Rouge – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
19 Figure Humaine: Liberte – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker

CD 2 Angel Dances (2005)
1 la Muerte Del Àngel – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
2 Milonga Del Àngel – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
3 la Resurreccion Del Àngel – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
4 Let Us Praise Him – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker/Jocelyn B Smith/Hans-Dieter Lorenz
5 Plorate – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker/Simon Halsey/Rundfunkchor Berlin
6 la Cathedrale Engloutie – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
7 Fratres – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker/Franz Schindelbeck
8 a Solis Ortus Cardine – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker/Jocelyn B Smith
9 Quattro Pezzi Sacri: Ave Maria – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
10 Choral: Jesu Bleibet Meine Freude (From Cantata 147) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
11 Trio & Double Quartet (Elijah) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
12 Miniatur (Einer Seelenreise) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker/Markus Stockhausen

CD 3 As Time Goes By (2003)
1 Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend (Some Like It Hot) – Till Bronner/Rolo Rodriguez/Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker/Esko Laine
2 Main Theme (Basic Instinct) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
3 the Man with the Harmonica (Once Upon a Time in America) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker/Esko Laine
4 la Strada – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
5 Tea for Two (From No, No Nanette) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker/Janne Saksala
6 Lullaby of Birdland (The Fabulous Baker Boys) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker/Esko Laine
7 As Time Goes By (Casablanca) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker/Janne Saksala
8 Family Portrait (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker/Wenzel Fuchs
9 Poverty/Deborah’s Theme (Once Upon a Time in America) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker/Janne Saksala/Marie-Pierre Langlamet
10 Catch Me If You Can – Nigel Kennedy/Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
11 Titanic: Theme – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
12 I Could Have Done More (Schindler’s List) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker/Marie-Pierre Langlamet/Esko Laine
13 Windmills of Your Mind (The Thomas Crown Affair) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker/Esko Laine
14 the Bare Necessities (The Jungle Book) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker/Max Raabe/Janne Saksala
15 Love Me Tender – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker/Nigel Kennedy
16 Vertigo – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker/Marie-Pierre Langlamet

CD 4 ‘Round Midnight (2002)

1 Caravan – Janne Saksala/Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
2 America (From West Side Story) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
3 Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
4 Clap You’hands – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
5 the Pink Panther – Janne Saksala/Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
6 Moonlight Serenade – Janne Saksala/Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
7 the Flower Is a Key (Rap for Mozart) – Sir Simon Rattle/Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
8 Prelude No.2 from Piano Preludes – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
9 Amerika 2002, in Memoriam: Part 1 – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker/Till Bronner
10 Amerika 2002, in Memoriam: Part 2 – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker/Till Bronner
11 Deep River – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
12 Ragtime – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
13 Spain – Janne Saksala/Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
14 ‘Round Midnight – Till Bronner/Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker

CD 5 South American Getaway (1999)
1 Bachianas Brasileiras No. 1: I. Introduction (Embolada) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
2 Bachianas Brasileiras No. 1: II. Preludio (Modinha) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
3 Bachianas Brasileiras No. 1: III. Fugue (Conversa) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
4 Fuga y Misterio (Arr Jose Carli) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
5 ’12’ in Bossa Nova (Variacoes Brasilieras) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
6 la Flor de la Canela (Arr Jose Carli) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
7 Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5: Aria (Cantilena) – Juliane Banse/Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
8 Bachianas Brasileiras No 5: Danca (Martelo) – Juliane Banse/Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
9 Mas Que Nada (Arr. Walter Despalj) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
10 Addios Nonino (Arr. Julio Medaglio) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
11 Chiquilin de Bachin (Arr Jose Carli) – Juliane Banse/Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
12 a Fuego Lento (Arr Jose Carli) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
13 South American Getaway (Arr. Walter Despalj) – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker

CD 6 Beatles in Classics (1983)
1 Yellow Submarine – the 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
2 Let It Be – the 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
3 Something – the 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
4 the Fool on the Hill – the 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
5 Help – the 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
6 Yesterday – the 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
7 Michelle – the 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
8 a Hard Day’s Night – the 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
9 Norwegian Wood – the 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
10 Here, There and Everywhere – the 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
11 Can’t Buy Me Love – the 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
12 Hey Jude – the 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

CD 7 Die 12 Cellisten der Berliner Philharmoniker Vol. 2 (1981)*
1 Bachianas Brasileiras No.5: I Aria (Cantilena) – Adagio – 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
2 Bachianas Brasileiras No.5: II Dansa (Martelo) – Allegretto – 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
3 the Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Kontrapunctus 1 – 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
4 The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Canon Xiva – 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
5 the Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Kontrapunctus V – 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
6 Sonata À Due Chori Fur 12 Violoncelli: Grave Allegro Allegro Recitativo Allegro Grave – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
7 Tre’y-Assar, Dodecalogue Fur 12 Violoncelli: Lento Allegro – Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker
8 Maria – 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

CD 8 Die 12 Cellisten der Berliner Philharmoniker Vol. 1 (1978)
1 Bachianas Brasileiras NR 1, I Introducao (Embolada) – 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
2 Bachianas Brasileiras NR 1, II Preludio (Modinha) – 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
3 Bachianas Brasileiras NR.1, III. Fuga (Conversa) – 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
4 Windungen Fur 12 Violoncellisten – 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
5 Melodia: Ritmica Op. 59 NR. 1, Melodia – 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
6 Melodia: Ritmica Op. 59 NR. 1, Ritmica – 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
7 Traditional: Gospel Train – 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
8 Yesterday – 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
9 St. Louis Blues – 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra