As can be seen from
the heading this is pretty much of a mixed bag. The objective
with this compilation is to show the versatility and the catholic
tastes of one of the greatest musicians today before the public
– and I didn’t confine it to “classical” musician, even though
to most readers that’s what he primarily is. Through these 2½
hours he takes us on a very long ride through many byways and
back to the classical mainstream. In culinary terms he serves
a smorgasbord to suit all tastes.
CD 1 covers mainly
well-trodden paths, but with a slant towards “light-classics”
or classical bon-bons, most originally written for other instruments
(or voices), tastefully adapted and immaculately played with
silken tone. Rachmaninov’s Vocalise, often played by
cellists in Leonard Rose’s arrangement, is here performed with
the marvellous Bobby McFerrin, whose voice has true cello character.
It blends so beautifully with Ma’s cellos; it is obviously recorded
through play-back technique. It’s a different and very well
done version. After so much beautiful romantic “wall-paper”
music it comes as a fresh wind to hear the finale of Shostakovich’s
Cello Sonata, performed with such thrust by Ma and Ax - two
of the shortest names on the international circuit. Ax amply
demonstrates what a wonderful pianist he is. Tchaikovsky’s Andante
Cantabile is the well-known one from his first String Quartet,
but obviously this is an original arrangement. It is performed
very slow and recessed, almost like funeral music, but certainly
beautiful. The Brahms Rondo alla Zingarese from his first
Piano Quartet is one of his most stirring chamber music
movements and with Stern and Laredo also on-site this is a highpoint.
One wishes that they had played the whole quartet. With Kurt
Masur at the helm of the NY Philharmonic the finale of Dvořák’s
Cello Concerto brings CD1 to a glorious end.
CD 2 has a distinct
Latin American flavour. Surrounded by top musicians Yo-Yo Ma
admirably investigates this corner of the musical world. After
some tracks I was left with a feeling of sameness. It might
be my fault more than the artists’, but I would have liked sharper
contrasts. Anyway there are fine vocals by Rosa Passos in Antonio
Carlos Jobim’s Chega de saudade, recalling the work of
Astrud Gilbero in the sixties’ bossa nova wave. Piazzolla’s
Libertango is a fine piece and there is some more good
singing, by Alison Krauss¸ in Simple Gifts. Two more
favourites: Claude Bolling’s Baroque in Rhythm recalls
Alec Templeton’s Bach Goes to Town, recorded in the late
1930s by Benny Goodman. It is good to hear another swing veteran,
violinist Stephane Grappelli in Anything Goes.
Infinitely fascinating
is the Silk Road Ensemble, a group of musicians from many countries,
many cultures and varying musical background. Here they get
together and explore old and newly written music, often performed
on instruments we didn’t even know existed. There are three
tracks here. Hearing the music of Renaissance composer Filippo
Azzaiolo played by these musicians is a great adventure. This
is world music!
Discs with snippets
like this have to be taken for what they are: appetizers for
further exploration or just agreeable easy listening. What is
never in doubt is the high quality of the playing and recording.
The insert booklet has full documentation and also a selected
discography. Whether this is “The Essential Yo-Yo Ma” is another
question.
Göran Forsling
Yo-Yo Ma (cello)
