For the Record, Op. 79: Yo-Yo Ma: Salonen Cello Concerto

March 7, 2019, 4:57 PM · Welcome to "For the Record," Violinist.com's weekly roundup of new releases of recordings by violinists, violists, cellists and other classical musicians. We hope it helps you keep track of your favorite artists, as well as find some new ones to add to your listening!

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Photo by Jason Bell.

Salonen Cello Concerto
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Esa-Pekka Salonen, composer
Los Angeles Philharmonic

This recording captures the live performance in Los Angeles on February 8, 2018 of Esa-Pekka Salonen’s cello concerto featuring Yo-Yo Ma and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by Salonen. In Salonen's words, it begins with "a simple thought emerging out of a complex landscape. Almost like consciousness developing from clouds of dust." The second movement follows with "slow cello arches...looped to create harmony from single lines." This is followed by the third movement of music that is "often dance-like; sometimes gesticulating wildly, perhaps from the sheer joy of no longer having to do with clouds and processes. Finally the kinetic energy burns itself out gently, the rapid movement slows down, and the cello line climbs slowly up to a stratospherically high B-flat, two centimeters to the left from the highest note of the piano." BELOW: Ma and Salonen talk about working with friends, and their collaboration.

If you have a new recording you would like us to consider for inclusion in our Thursday "For the Record" feature, please e-mail Editor Laurie Niles. Be sure to include the name of your album, a link to it and a short description of what it includes.