The Seventh Cellist

Rudolf Weinsheimer, cellist and member of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra for 40 years under Herbert von Karajan and Claudio Abbado, is also known as the founder of the Ensemble of the 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. He organ-ized worldwide tours for his orchestra and the 12 Cellists and was instrumental in encouraging world-renowned composers like Boris Blacher, Arvo Pärt or Iannis Xenakis to write new music for the Ensemble of the 12 Cellists. In this biography, he tells his life story, the story of a passionate and talented young man who, as a wartime child growing up in Wiesbaden, has to learn how to survive the dismal and sometimes cruel times, without losing track of his goal to become a musician like his father. It is a story of ambition, coincidence, fate, resilience, and overall a positive attitude towards change and progress, which leads this young man on the right path. He tells about encounters with famous musicians during 40 years of touring the world with his orchestra, and recalls anecdotes about both failures and moments of great success, at home as well as abroad. Most importantly, however, there is the feeling of music uniting and reconciling the nations of this world, with Japan being a cornerstone in his vita. Finally, it is also a story about post-war Germany on her way to overcome her guilt and accept responsibility by fostering peace and understanding among the people of this world through music. In hindsight, it becomes clear that also many famous pieces of music of the 20th century – Shostakovich in his 10th Symphony, for example, or Richard Strauss, for that matter – grapple with the conflicts of the 20th century. Rudolf Weinsheimer keeps the reader close to his life experiences, be they professional or private, he is honest and outspoken at times, yet always human, and also philosophical when it comes to the unexpected turns life can take.