Summary

“Nothing is more voluptuously melancholy, or more suited to the utterance of tender, languishing themes, than a mass of violoncellos playing in unison upon their first string.” (Hector Berlioz: A Treatise upon Modern Instrumentation and Orchestration)

Ludwig Quandt became a member of the Berliner Philharmoniker in 1991, and in 1993, he was appointed 1st principal cellist – a position that one of his teachers previously held under Wilhelm Furtwängler. Audiences know Quandt as a passionate chamber musician and as a member of the orchestra’s ensemble The 12 Cellists. He regularly appears as a soloist in concerts with his own orchestra as well as other ensembles, for example, as the protagonist in Richard Strauss’ tone poem Don Quixote. In this portrait, Ludwig Quandt talks about his favourite parts in orchestral works, the unique sound of the cello, which resembles the human voice – and of course his own instrument, which was built by Francesco Ruggieri in Cremona in the 17th century.