Their sound is homogenous yet vibrant given that the instruments can play the same note in a variety of octaves, while the orchestra's repertoire can be extended indefinitely as there is so much potential for new arrangements, and the standard of the legendary ensemble is worthy of its parent orchestra's name in every respect.
"Why have we been playing together for so long time, why haven't we had enough of the whole thing? In an orchestra, the cellists always have to pay attention to what the others are doing and accompany them. They are happy on the rare occasions they get to play the melody and are often bathed in sweat by the end of a longer symphony, even through the audience will have heard very little of their play. Of course, everyone notices immediately when they make a mistake. That is why it is so exciting for us, as 12 cellists, to play together. We create an entire orchestra from a single instrument. The arrangements written for us change along with us, while we change along with the works when we are playing them. I think this is the main attraction of the ensemble, which is why we want to continue working together..." In 1972, the 12 cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic were commissioned by ORF producers to record a single work - Julius Klengel's piece entitled Hymn. The project was such a success and the performers enjoyed playing together without a conductor so much that they made the ensemble permanent. They travel the world and have works composed for them, their records top the charts, and they have received the Echo Klassik award three times.