Yo-Yo Ma News

On Friday, June 1, 2018, CAP Records releases To Brahms, with Love: From the Cello of Pablo Casals, featuring Israeli-American cellist Amit Peled in Brahms' Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 and 2, accompanied by pianist Noreen Polera. Peled can be heard performing on the 1733 Pablo Casals Goffriller cello, which was personally loaned to him by Maestro Casals' widow, Mrs. Marta Casals Istomin. Casals performed Brahms' F Major Sonata No. 2 for the composer himself, and recorded the Brahms Sonatas on the Goffriller cello in the 1930s.

On Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 7pm cellist Inbal Segev, known for her 'glowing, burnished tone,' (The Washington Post) will give the world premiere of Timo Andres' new cello concerto, Upstate Obscura, with the Metropolis Ensemble led by Andrew Cyr. This performance entitled, Time Travelers to Versailles, is presented by MetLiveArts in Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 5th Avenue) inspired by the exhibition Visitors to Versailles (1682–1789) on view at The Met Fifth Avenue April 16–July 29, 2018.

NBA Hall of Fame basketball star and platinum hip-hop artist Shaquille O'Neal reads the immersive Edward Hirsch poem “Fast Break” about the universal experience of playing basketball in a remarkable new 12-part television series Poetry in America that aims to bring poetry to millions of viewers.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra's "Composers Workshop - Beyond the Ring" Public Working Session and Showcase was held on 13 March 2018 at the Grand Hall, Lee Shau Kee Lecture Centre, Centennial Campus, The University of Hong Kong. In our commitment to nurturing composing talents in Hong Kong, the HK Phil has organised a series of workshops and a public showcase for six young local composers - Chan Chi-long, Kwok Man-ho, Meilina Tsui Mei-ling, Wong Ching-yin, So Ho-chi, and Wong Chun-wai. Their new works were premiered by the HK Phil under the baton of conductor Sebastian Per?owski, with the honoured attendance of officiating guest Mrs. Angelina Cheung, Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs.

On 13 & 14 April in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil), conductor Zhang Guoyong and violinist Baiba Skride will perform a programme of music composed at critical times in the lives of two Russian composers.

The Cultural Services of the French Embassy and the French Institute Alliance Francaise (FIAF) are pleased to announce programming for the third annual Tilt Kids Festival, featuring six premieres of whimsical, thoughtful, and rigorously made works for children across six venues throughout New York City, March 3-18. Described by The New York Times as "French in origin, fantastical in concept, and freewheeling in execution," the festival will engage kids of all ages with the work of renowned artists across multiple disciplines. Many events are free; for ticketed events, please visit www.tiltkidsfestival.org.

Hailed as a 'virtuoso' and 'intensely soulful' by The New York Times, Grammy-winning, Syrian-born clarinetist Kinan Azmeh will perform in a collaborative LiveConnections Presents concert this May at World Cafe Live. He will be joined by the acclaimed Aizuri Quartet, praised by the Washington Post for 'captivating' performances that draw from a notable 'meld of intellect, technique and emotions.' The finale of the LiveConnections Presents season will take place on Thursday, May 31, 2018 at 7:30PM, and will span classical, jazz and Arab musical languages.

Now in his fourth season as Music Director, Andris Nelsons leads the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) in three concerts in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage over three consecutive evenings in April. The concerts kick off with a celebration of the Leonard Bernstein centenary on Wednesday, April 11 at 8:00 p.m. with Bernstein's Symphony No. 2, "The Age of Anxiety," featuring pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, the BSO's 2017-2018 Artist-in-Residence. The work is paired with Shostakovich's Symphony No. 4 in C Minor.

Since the release of his 2004 critically acclaimed CD When I Fall In Love, Chris Botti has become the largest-selling American instrumental artist. His success has crossed over to audiences usually reserved for pop music and his ongoing association with PBS has led to four #1 jazz albums, as well as multiple Gold, Platinum and Grammy Awards. Most recently, his latest album Impressions won the Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album at the 2013 55th Grammy Awards. Performing worldwide and selling more than four million albums, he has found a form of creative expression that begins in jazz and expands beyond the limits of any single genre.

The Grammy-nominated Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, which captures the infectious fun of big band music, will perform at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya) on Thursday, April 5 at 8:00pm.  Jazz Times called the Los Angeles-based band, with a 32-year history, "one of current jazz's most vital large ensemble." Co-founder bassist John Clayton is a CSUN alumnus who has gone on to play with superstars such as Michael Jackson, Patti LaBelle and Madonna.

Legendary songwriter, recording artist and performer Paul Simon has announced the final leg of Homeward Bound – The Farewell Tour, culminating with four shows in the New York City area: the Prudential Center on September 15 in Newark, NJ(the city where Simon was born), and two nights at Madison Square Garden on September 20 and 21, with an additional concert to be announced soon.  As previously announced, Simon and his band will embark on the artist's final tour May 16 in Vancouver, bringing to the stage a stunning, career-spanning repertoire of timeless hits and classic songs.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil), together with renowned violinist Ning Feng under the baton of Principal Guest Conductor Yu Long, will bring a taste of Scotland to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. They will tantalise the audience with the sights and sounds of Scotland as revealed by three composers - Mendelssohn, Bruch and Maxwell Davies on 6 & 7 April.

On Sunday, 8 April in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) is delighted to present an afternoon concert for all the family featuring great music associated with Great Britain. HK Phil's Principal Guest Conductor Yu Long, the orchestra and violinist Ning Feng will introduce music from British composers Alun Hoddinott, Edward Elgar and Peter Maxwell Davies, as well as British-themed music from non-British composers including Percy Grainger and Max Bruch.

NYU Skirball will present the New York premiere of Love Heals All Wounds, an evening-length work by MAI (Movement Art Is), choreographed by Lil Buck and Jon Boogz, on Saturday, April 14 at 3 and 7:30 pm.  Love Heals All Wounds features the intricate and urban choreography of Lil Buck and Jon Boogz, the stirring words of spoken word artist Robin Sanders, and an all-star cast of movement artists.  The piece addresses social issues such as police brutality and violence in America while seeking to promote diversity, inclusion, and empathy as a uniting force.

The Board of Trustees of American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic Director Diane Paulus and Executive Director Diane Borger, raised a record $1.3 million in support of the theater's artistic, community, and education programs at a Monday, March 5 gala that honored A.R.T. Trustee Paul Buttenwieser with the theater's Angel Award. More than 400 guests attended the event at the Boch Center Wang Theatre.

After an almost thirty-year tenure, cellist Ronald Leonard has retired from the Colburn School. While his contributions to Colburn have been extraordinary, the impact he has had on his colleagues and generations of young artists worldwide has been beyond measure. The Colburn School will celebrate Leonard's six decades as a distinguished orchestral performer, chamber musician, and educator with a special tribute on April 9, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. in Zipper Hall.

As part of its continuing commitment to young artists, The Glenn Gould Foundation presents thirteen-year-old music prodigy Alma Deutscher in her Canadian debut performance on April 13, 2018 at 8 PM at Koerner Hall (273 Bloor Street West). This extraordinarily gifted young musician will perform a concert in celebration of the international jury for the twelfth Glenn Gould Prize who will be in attendance. 

The Juilliard School announced today that it has received a bequest from Academy Award-winning composer and conductor John Williams of his complete library of concert music and film music scores as well as his sketchbooks. Mr. Williams, who studied piano with longtime Juilliard faculty member Rosina Lhevinne, announced the gift at a special alumni event held in Los Angeles at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills, where Mr. Williams was also presented with a President's Medal by Juilliard President Joseph W. Polisi.

NBA Hall of Fame basketball star and platinum hip-hop artist Shaquille O'Neal reads the immersive Edward Hirsch poem “Fast Break” about the universal experience of playing basketball in a remarkable new 12-part television series Poetry in America that aims to bring poetry to millions of viewers. Watch the trailer here!

BSO Music Director Finalist Tigran Arakelyan leads a program for the entire family. Audience members will be treated to musical favorites from the original Batman, Superman, and even John Williams' original scoring for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestra will be featured in a side-by-side performance, and the 2nd Place Winner of the BSO's ever-popular Young Artist Competition will perform Movements II and III from Saint-Saens' Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op.33.