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They rank among the best soloists on the cello,...
...David Drost, Alexander Kahl, Andreas Kipp and Rouven Schirmer,...
...and together they are the Berliner Cellharmoniker.
Cello quartets are rare and along with that, this ensemble's repertoire is also unusual – ranging from Bach to Michael Jackson.
The quartet has already won many awards, among them...
...the Dutch Chamber Music Competition "Charles Hennen" and the cello ensemble competition in Beauvais, France.
The quartet is about to release its new CD: CelloCocktail 2.
Four cellos, four soloists, perfectly in harmony with each other,...
...and with their trademark repertoire: a mix of classical, avant-garde and pop music.
A. Kahl: Naturally, we want to make beautiful music...
... but we would like to break down the barrier...
...between serious music and lighter music, and fuse them.
The quartet has played across Europe over the past 11 years,...
...as well as Asia and Africa.
Before a concert tour to Ethiopia, the ensemble founded...
..the charity organization 'Dignity for Children' which provides schooling for homeless children.
R. Schirmer: We sat down to play and all around the music stands...
..children's heads suddenly popped up and wanted to see..
what we were doing with the instruments."
The musicians are all successful soloists as well.
However, the quartet takes up a lot of time with about 70 concerts per year...
...and also competitions – which means lots of rehearsal time.
Not only is the cast of four cellos unusual but so is the repertoire: Gershwin, Grönemeyer and Grieg.
The Berliner Cellharmoniker play everything from pop and jazz to classical music.
D. Drost: Since the repertoire for a 'normal' string quartet is huge, we had to find our own approach.
We need to arrange our own pieces,...
...have new compositions written for us and dig hard for original pieces for a cello quartet.
The composer Thomas Hennig, who directs the choir of the State Opera in Antalya, Turkey, has long been a fan of the Cellharmoniker.
And with the musical influences he has absorbed in Turkey,...
...he has composed a suite for them: "Mozart's journey to Istanbul."
T. Hennig: I think it is a wonderful challenge to compose for a cello quartet...
...since it offers many opportunities, not only in its range...
...but through its range of sounds as well.
After hundreds of concerts, the quartet has gotten used to performing...
...but even so, they're still always a little nervous before a concert.
Q: Stage fright? ... R. Schirmer: Yes, certainly. You always get it a little...
...but the nice thing is that we have known each other for so long...
...that we almost enjoy the sensation, because we know...
...how the others will react on stage. It is simply part of a concert.
On stage, the Berliner Cellharmoniker once again tantalize their audience,...
...even those listeners who seldom go to a classical concert.