While I must say I was most looking forward to the rock shows this summer, I can't deny that one of my most anticipated shows was Yo Yo Ma and I was definitely not disappointed! Yo Yo Ma is one of the most renowned and celebrated cellists in history and his popularity extends beyond the classical music scene. After graduating from Harvard University in 1976, he began playing with some of the most famous orchestras in the world as well as playing for a plethora of dignitaries and celebrities. He received his first grammy award in 1986 and his 75 albums albums have racked up 14 more since then. He has received both the National Medal of the Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom and is recognized around the world for his dedication to the arts and his promotion of classical music. I obviously knew about him beforehand but I have never heard him play and was eager to hear what he sounded like. I was blown away with his sound and his ability to both mesh with the orchestra and play a beautiful solo when needed. His tone is very expressive and while the cello usually has a mellow and deep sound, Yo Yo relies on a higher pitch and a more aggressive playing style. In the end, it's no wonder that he's so celebrated and I am so glad that I was able to see him play. The NSO also sounded as good as I've heard them play and their opening with Candide (which I played in high school) was beautiful. They also played "In the Hall of the Mountain King", a simple piece but one of my favorite and a song I've always wanted to play myself. Ultimately, it was probably the best classical concert I've ever heard and kept my attention the entire time. What an unforgettable night.
The night was sold out but like most classical shows, there was little to do during the actual concert. there were a lot of lawn chairs out on the lawn so I was kept busy before the show. The light rain before the show added to those chair problems but most people were understanding. After the rain stopped, it became a beautiful night and the cloud cover kept the temperature down. People seemed to be greatly enjoying the show and it allowed me to listen to the beautiful music without much interruption. As always, looking forward to more shows in the future!
My favorite part of the show was when Yo Yo Ma came out for a solo piece as an encore. I wasn't sure if he was going to actually do it so I was on the edge of my seat like everyone else in the venue. Luckily, he graciously came back out and played a wonderful piece that truly showed his remarkable abilities!
DC
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| a great player and a great man |
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