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.
