Yo-Yo Ma News

Sahba Motallebi, born in Iran, is recognized internationally as a virtuoso of the tar and setar, lute-like stringed instruments central to one of the world's great musical traditions. In this concert, she performs a repertoire of traditional Persian music and original pieces accompanied by Naghmeh Farahmand on tonbak (goblet drum) and daf (frame drum).

Experience the exquisite Renee Fleming -- in recital, in the acoustic splendor of Prudential Hall, accompanied by pianist Gerald Martin Moore. One of the most beloved and celebrated musical ambassadors of our time, soprano Renee Fleming captivates audiences with her sumptuous voice, consummate artistry, and compelling stage presence. At a White House ceremony in 2013, the President awarded her the National Medal of Arts, America's highest honor for an individual artist. Known as 'the people's diva' and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Solo, she continues to grace the world's greatest opera stages and concert halls, now extending her reach to include other musical forms and media. In recent years, Renee has hosted a wide variety of television and radio broadcasts, including the Metropolitan Opera's Live in HD series for movie theaters and television, and Live From Lincoln Center on PBS. She brought her voice to a vast new audience in 2014, as the first classical artist to sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl.

LA Opera will celebrate Halloween with two screenings of the 1922 silent classic Nosferatu, featuring a new score created by Matthew Aucoin, the company's new Artist in Residence. One of the greatest horror films ever made, the supremely creepy vampire thriller will be accompanied live by Mr. Aucoin conducting a chamber ensemble of musicians from the LA Opera Orchestra and soprano soloist Liv Redpath, a member of the company's Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program. Presented as part of the company's Off Grand initiative, the screenings will take place on October 29 and 31 at the Theatre at Ace Hotel.

The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia (UBC) presents Brain, a hilarious and heartbreaking monologue about the mind, mental illness, and friendship on November 17 at 7:30pm in the Telus Studio Theatre as part of the Beyond Words series. Written and performed by novelist and slam poet Brendan McLeod, this 2015 Vancouver Fringe Festival Pick of the Fringe has been hailed as "soulful, heartfelt theatre that is moving and challenging, skillfully crafted and entertaining." (Plank Magazine)

The American Symphony Orchestra, conducted by music director Leon Botstein, will open its 55th season at Carnegie Hall on Wednesday, October 19, 2016.  The four-concert Vanguard series begins with a program titled Troubled Days of Peacein which Botstein will lead the Orchestra and the Bard Festival Chorale in concert versions of two one-act operas that examine the turbulent period between the First and Second World Wars: Ernst Krenek's Der Diktator ('The Dictator') and Richard Strauss' Friedenstag ('Days of Peace').

For the better part of a decade founder, curator and host soprano Allison Charney has presented one of NYC's most compelling concert series in collaboration with the JCC Manhattan's Lambert Center for Arts + Ideas in New York's Upper West Side. Billed as 'presenting celebrated classical musicians just before they take on the worlds' most prestigious stages' 'PREformances with Allison Charney' does just that, in an intimate concert experience where the relationship between artist and audience is heightened and reimagined. Scroll down for photos from the eighth season kick-off concert!

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, the Schubert Club and The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra are pleased to present The Sphinx Virtuosi with Catalyst Quartet on Sunday, Oct. 30 in the Ordway Concert Hall. Tickets for the special performance start at $22 and can be purchased online at ordway.org, by phone at 651-224-4222 or in person at the Ordway ticket office.

The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia (UBC) announces the return of Portuguese-Mozambican artist, Mariza, the living voice of fado on Wednesday, November 2, 2016 at 8pm in theChan Shun Concert Hall. Mariza will share contemporary fado from her bold new album Mundo, a vibrant musical travelogue that journeys from Cape Verde to Spain, and from Argentina to Portugal.

On Tuesday, October 25 at 8:00PM at Alice Tully Hall, The American Classical Orchestra, comprised of some of the world's leading period violinists, will present Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Violinists Judson Griffin, Lisa Rautenberg, Cynthia Roberts and Jorg-Michael Schwarz will perform on 1610 and 1615 Giovanni Maginni and 1668 and 1671 Jacob Stainer masterpiece violins.

On Tuesday, October 25 at 8:00PM at Alice Tully Hall, The American Classical Orchestra, comprised of some of the world's leading period violinists, will present Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Violinists Judson Griffin, Lisa Rautenberg, Cynthia Roberts and Jorg-Michael Schwarz will perform on 1610 and 1615 Giovanni Maginni and 1668 and 1671 Jacob Stainer masterpiece violins. Also featured on the program are Handel's Concerto Grosso Opus 3, No. 2, Geminiani's "La Follia' Concerto and Albicastro's Concerto a Quattro Opus 7 excerpts. This concert will be conducted by Thomas Crawford.  Maestro Thomas Crawford will present a Pre-Concert Lecture at 7:00PM on October 25.

On Today, September 22, 2016 at 8:00PM at Alice Tully Hall, the American Classical Orchestra, a 50-piece period instrument orchestra devoted to preserving and performing the repertoire of 17th, 18th and 19th century composers, presents its opening night concert of its 32nd Season. The program, which will be conducted by Thomas Crawford, will include Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3  'Scottish', Berlioz's Les nuits d'été with mezzo-soprano Avery Amereau, and Cipriani Potter's Symphony No. 10. Artistic Director and Founder Thomas Crawford says of this program, 'In Mendelssohn's stormy Scottish Symphony, period instruments enliven the thrilling orchestration and memorable tunes for which the composer is so beloved. In Berlioz's evocative Les nuits d'été, the ACO proudly introduces the extraordinary young American mezzo-soprano Avery Amereau. A rarely heard symphony by British composer Cipriani Potter completes a concert that takes the audience back into the luxurious sonorities of the Romantic Era.'

On Today, September 22, 2016 at 8:00PM at Alice Tully Hall, the American Classical Orchestra, a 50-piece period instrument orchestra, presents its opening night concert of its 32nd Season. The program will include Mendelssohn's 'Scottish' Symphony, Berlioz's Les nuits d'ete, and Cipriani Potter's Symphony No. 10. In Mendelssohn's stormy Scottish Symphony, period instruments enliven the thrilling orchestration and memorable tunes for which the composer is so beloved. In Berlioz's evocative Les nuits d'ete, the ACO proudly introduces the extraordinary young American mezzo-soprano Avery Amereau. A rarely heard Symphony No. 10 by British composer Cipriani Potter completes a concert that takes the audience back into the luxurious sonorities of the Romantic Era.

On October 26th and 28th, Unison Media's performance series The Crypt Sessions will celebrate Halloween early with the world premiere of pianist/composer Gregg Kallor's dramatic canata based on Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart, featuring mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Pojanowski, cellist Joshua Roman, and Kallor himself at the piano.

New York City's best cabaret venue has found a home in Seattle. In an all-new producing partnership, Teatro ZinZanni and Joe's Pub at The Public, one of New York City's most celebrated institutions for emerging and accomplished performance artists, present a brand new late night series, 'Joe's Pub Seattle.'

For the better part of a decade founder, curator and host soprano Allison Charney has presented one of NYC's most compelling concert series in collaboration with the JCC Manhattan's Lambert Center for Arts + Ideas in New York's Upper West Side.  Billed as "presenting celebrated classical musicians just before they take on the worlds' most prestigious stages" "PREformances with Allison Charney" does just that, in an intimate concert experience where the relationship between artist and audience is heightened and reimagined.

For the better part of a decade founder, curator and host soprano Allison Charney has presented one of NYC's most compelling concert series in collaboration with the JCC Manhattan's Lambert Center for Arts + Ideas in New York's Upper West Side.  Billed as "presenting celebrated classical musicians just before they take on the worlds' most prestigious stages" "PREformances with Allison Charney" does just that.  

World renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who has introduced new generations to the vitality and timelessness of classical music, joins Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) on Haydn's Cello Concerto in C, a tour de force showcasing the instrument's full range of color, to celebrate Music Director Jeffrey Kahane's final season with the Orchestra on Sunday, October 16, 2016, 7:30 pm, at USC's Bovard Auditorium.

Conducted by CSO Music Director Rossen Milanov, this passionate and spectacular piece touches every emotion from stark terror to soothing beauty to an uplifting sense of spirituality. Although composed as a sacred work, its deep theatricality has led to it being frequently described as "Verdi's greatest opera." To adequately convey the breadth of his vision, Verdi called for the combined forces of a full orchestra, chorus, and four solo vocalists. As such, the Columbus Symphony will be joined by the Columbus Symphony Chorus, soprano Michelle Johnson, mezzo-soprano Margaret Mezzacappa, tenor Evan Johnson, and bass Burak Bilgili.

The Chicago Philharmonic's 2016-17 season, Love, begins with a concert exploring 'Legendary Lovers' as depicted in music. Couples including Romeo & Juliet, Ruslan & Ludmila, and Tristan & Isolde all feature. Emily Birsan and John Irvin, Ryan Opera Center alumni recently heard at the Lyric Opera, sing duets by Verdi, Bernstein, and Gounod, and the orchestra performs symphonic works by Ravel, Wagner, Glinka, and Diamond. The Belle Harmonie harp duo, featuring Krista Hagglund and Anna Hirons of the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory, will perform in the foyer before the concert.

Two images side by side on a poster. One shows a raging eight-year-old Palestinian boy throwing a stone with his right hand at an unseen Israeli soldier, while another stone is clutched in his left. The other picture has the same young man a decade later, pulling a bow across the strings of a viola. That pair of photographs was the beginning of a path that's brought viola player Ramzi Aburedwan and the Dal'Ouna Ensemble to tour the U.S. from September 15-October 3 (see tour schedule below) with award-winning journalist Sandy Tolan, who's written Aburedwan's inspiring story in his remarkable book, Children of the Stone: The Power of Music in a Hard Land.