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Concert by 12 Cellists Remembers the Peaceful Revolution
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- The 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic before a replica of the Berlin Wall
- (© German Embassy, Washington, DC)
A remarkable concert by the renowned 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic was organized jointly by the German Embassy and The Music Center at Strathmore to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The Berlin Philharmonic sets very rigorous selection criteria for its musicians. New members are accepted only when all 128 orchestra members vote in favor. The 12 Cellists, who are among the world’s finest, play a broad repertoire with the same virtuosity as their parent orchestra. The members may appear only when the full Berlin Philharmonic is not performing. The prominent “orchestra within an orchestra” is celebrating its 37th anniversary this year with what has now become the second generation of member musicians.
The 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra had come to Strathmore on the initiative of the German Embassy to perform as part of its Freedom Without Walls series of events commemorating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Ludwig Quandt, first cellist of the Berlin Philharmonic and leader of the ensemble, is also featured in the Freedom Without Walls documentary film produced for the German Embassy, which was handed out to the audience after the concert.
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- Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United States of America, Klaus Scharioth
- (© German Embassy, Washington DC)
Guests were greeted on behalf of Strathmore by Montgomery County Executive Isiah (Ike) Leggett, who spoke of the significance of the fall of the Berlin Wall before welcoming Ambassador Scharioth to the podium. Ambassador Scharioth talked about the developments that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall and of the bravery East German citizens demonstrated when they took part in the marches during the weeks leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989. He also expressed his gratitude to the American people for their unfailing support after 1945, without which the fall of the Berlin Wall would have been inconceivable.
The concert took place before a full house on November 10. To mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the 12 Cellists performed classical works focusing on political freedom in the first half of the program. The piece Figure Humaine by Francis Poulenc is an ode to freedom and hope based on the poem by Paul Eluard, which, in turn, was inspired by the French resistance to Nazi occupation. El cant del ocells (“The Song of the Birds”) by Pablo Casals was recited before the United Nations during the Franco dictatorship.
Other works performed were by artists with strong ties to the city of Berlin, including Für mich soll’s rote Rosen regnen (“It Shall Rain Red Roses for Me”) by Hildegard Knef; the Trio from Elijah by Felix Mendelssohn; and Boris Blacher’s Blues, Espagnola und Rumba Philharmonica, which was the first work specifically composed for the 12 Cellists. A number of pieces by composers and musicians of North and South America were incorporated into the second half of the program, including Caravan by Washington, DC’s own Duke Ellington. To the great delight of the audience, the 12 Cellists gave two encore performances after receiving resounding applause and standing ovations from the guests in attendance.
A vin d’honneur hosted by German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth rounded out the evening and gave guests an opportunity to relax in the stylish atmosphere of Strathmore’s lounges and parlors, which were decorated by an impressive replica of the Berlin Wall displayed on the orchestra level.
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