The Philharmonic String Quintet Berlin is five Berlin Philharmonic musicians with a twist — instead of two violas or cellos, they throw in a double bass for a richer, almost orchestral sound. They’ll blaze through Dvořák, Mozart, Paganini, Bernstein, even Purple Haze — all on strings. Expect world-class skill, big personality, and a setlist that swings from classical to rock without missing a beat.

Philharmonic String Quintet Berlin

The Philharmonic String Quintet Berlin is exactly what it sounds like: a five-person string ensemble made up of musicians from the Berlin Philharmonic. But what sets them apart is their choice of instrumentation—unlike most string quintets, which double up on the viola or cello, this one adds a double bass. That small shift in setup gives the group a wider range and a richer, almost orchestral sound, without losing the intimacy of chamber music.

Formed in 2007 and debuting in Belgium, the group has since become a regular presence across Europe and Asia. They’ve played countless sold-out shows and have earned praise from the likes of Daniel Barenboim, who called them “truly extraordinary.”

The Musicians

Luiz Filipe Coelho – First Violin

Brazilian-born Coelho started playing violin at age four and trained across Brazil, Sweden, and Germany. A former student of the Berlin Philharmonic’s Orchestra Academy, he became a full member in 2012 and plays a rare 1774 Lorenzo Storioni violin on loan from the German government.

Romano Tommasini – Second Violin

Raised in Luxembourg and France, Tommasini studied in Paris and later joined the Berlin Philharmonic in 1989. He’s also a member of the Philharmonic Octet and the Vienna-Berlin Chamber Orchestra.

Wolfgang Talirz – Viola

Talirz has been with the Berlin Philharmonic since 1983 and performs regularly with chamber music formations featuring players from both the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonics.

Tatjana Vassiljeva – Cello

A soloist with major orchestras including the LSO and Munich Philharmonic, Vassiljeva became principal cellist of Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in 2014. She studied in Russia and Germany and has collaborated with conductors like Claudio Abbado and Valery Gergiev.

Gunars Upatnieks – Double Bass

Born in Latvia to a family of bass players, Upatnieks joined the Berlin Philharmonic in 2011 after stints with the Latvian National Symphony and the Bergen Philharmonic. He’s a prize-winning soloist and passionate about expanding the expressive range of the bass.

Program

• Antonín Dvořák – String Quintet No.3 in E-flat major, Op.97
  A rich, full-bodied five-part work that blends folk flavor with classical form.
  (40 mins)
• Mozart – Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, K.492
  A quick burst of operatic sparkle.
  (4 mins)
• Paganini – La Campanella (arr. for viola and strings)
  All the acrobatics and dazzle, played on viola instead of violin.
  (7 mins)
• Giovanni Bottesini – Grande Allegro di Concerto “alla Mendelssohn”
  A showstopper for double bass.
  (7 mins)
• David Popper – Spinning Song, Op.55 No.1
  Short, sweet, and perfect for cello.
  (4 mins)
• Sarasate – Carmen Fantasy, Op.25
  Operatic drama distilled into 16 minutes of violin fireworks.
  (16 mins)
• Leonard Bernstein – West Side Story Suite
  A string-quintet take on one of Broadway’s greatest scores.
  (5 mins)
• Janis Joplin – Purple Haze
  Yes, that Purple Haze. Yes, on strings.
  (4 mins)

Program subject to change.

What the Critics Say

“Truly extraordinary. They can sound as full as a string orchestra or as delicate as a trio.”
— Daniel Barenboim

“One of the best concerts we’ve had at ‘Saoû chante Mozart’ in 20 years. Exceptional players. The Berlin Philharmonic name says it all.”
— La Tribune (France)

“Passionate, refined, and full of joy. Every note feels handcrafted.”
— Aachener Zeitung (Germany)

“Stylish, radiant, and just flat-out beautiful.”
— Dolomiten (Italy)

“An absolute delight from the first note to the last… a triumph.”
— Cambridge News (UK)

“A wealth of symphonic color.”
— Wiesbadener Zeitung (Germany)

Shanghai Concert Hall