The new album “Asiago” by the creative soloist Julius Berger is a clever application and further development of a very pleasing, strong new trend in musical life: imaginative explorations of new repertoire fields by opening up new music to the vast areas of other cultures. In the case of the violoncello, this development seems almost provoked by its technical and traditional repertoire boundaries.

Julius Berger demonstrates how – even in a landscape such as the Alps, which seems to be closely interwoven with classical music as the homeland of well-known traditional folk music history – a closer look can reveal highly exciting and completely different ethno-potentials. He has developed a well-rounded CD programme of newly written music from the precious find of the small ethnic group of the Cimbri, who came from the north and settled in what is now northern Italy, centuries ago, and still live there today with their own language.

Most of this music was first performed at the annual Asiago Festival, which has been existing for 25 years now, and in various combinations – solo, in duet, with prepared piano and with cello ensemble and chamber orchestra – he has created a large, suggestive and meditative new repertoire for the low string instrument.