Aha I met one of The 12 Cellists in Central HK. It was very nice because I like this magnificent piece of music of you so much. 👏👏 At the present, I am in London. Hopefully we, The 12 Cellists and me, will meet in London soon.
lovely arrangement, beautiful blend, radiant vibrato. notice how they all move with similar musicality, and never too exuberantly. never disappointed by the Berlin Philharmonic :)
The mellifluous sound of the cello is well demonstrated. The extensive use of vibrato from each cello is very similar to one another which creates intense but rich and warm tones. Also, each solos are exceptionally musical. I like how they all have directions to the following phrase. Overall, it is very impressive how all twelve cellists communicate so well with one another.
Magnificent. Berliner Philharmoniker's musicians are really very virtuous. As much them as the Administration of the Orchestra, that chose them are of congratulations.
What a wonderful arrangement.! This is the best version of Pavane that i have seen so far. I like how they sat in semi-circle. I learned a lot by just watching this over and over- esp. emotion
I have to admit this is extremely well rehearsed. I think the blending is great, and the accompaniment and solos were absolutely beautiful. One of the best I have heard !
The music is ‘Pavane’ (opus 50) by the French composer, Gabriel Fauré, who wrote it in 1887. It is normally performed on either solo piano or by full orchestra. I suspect this is an arrangement unique to these cellists.
A German ensemble, playing music composed by a Frenchman, in the Russian capitol. That is a beautiful thing in and of itself. God bless all peace-loving people in the world.
In the midst of all these appraisals, let me speak a different voice here : although there is no doubt this is one of the best - if not the best - celli section in the world, and I fully agree with all that’s been said about their tone, articulation, vibrato and overall ensemble playing, I would certainly not say this is the best Pavane or the best arrangement of it. Actually, I don’t like the arrangement. It is very monotonous. Fauré’s music is not Mahler’s, it is delicate and needs subtlety and not permanent tutti playing… there are some parts in the middle where I don’t hear anything anymore, it gets muddy because too many lines play together without contrats, and no voice leading. Yet the result is overall good because the music is great and the players are outstanding. But with a more edgy, precise and accurate arrangement it could have been magical…. think about how Bartok would have arranged it ! Or Ravel ! There were a lot of different colors to be found with 12 cellists of this caliber :-)
When it's all men, everybody notices but nobody mentions it. Worth mentioning the one woman (Solène Kermarrec) just because the BPO is so male-dominated.
