Yo-Yo Ma is not only a cellist but also a lifelong explorer of music’s endless possibilities! Tonight, he interwove three of J.S. Bach’s solo cello suites with works by Zhao Jiping, Saygun, and Crumb, guiding the audience on a journey across eras and cultures.
In Bach’s music, he engaged in dialogue with the very essence of sound, allowing timeless melodies to take on new life. In the contemporary and cross-cultural works, he extended his long-standing vision of cultural exchange, blending the pulse of the grasslands, modern sonic language, and classical lines in resonant conversation.
Through this interplay, the program challenged traditions and revealed that music is not a fixed language, but an ever-unfolding process. The entire performance transcended virtuosity to become a profound dialogue between music and life, tradition and innovation. ✨
Before the encore, Yo-Yo Ma offered his bouquet of flowers to the audience, a heartfelt gesture that drew warm applause. He then dedicated a medley of Simple Gifts, Amazing Grace, Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen, and Going Home to the audience. Concluding with a playful heart gesture, he was met with a standing ovation, bringing the concert to a close in an atmosphere of warmth and joy.🫶🏻
Special thanks to KGI Bank, the KGI Cultural & Arts Foundation, and Mercedes-Benz Taiwan for their generous support in bringing this remarkable concert to life.
Yo-Yo Ma is a world-renowned cellist whose multi-faceted career is defined by his belief in culture’s power to foster trust and understanding. Through initiatives like Our Common Nature and the Bach Project, he explores how music can strengthen society, connect communities, and celebrate our shared humanity.
A dedicated advocate for global cooperation, Ma serves as a United Nations Messenger of Peace and is the founder of the global music collective Silkroad. His expansive discography of over 120 albums—including 19 Grammy Awards—ranges from iconic classical interpretations to genre-defying collaborations such as the Goat Rodeo Sessions. Recent highlights include his "Beethoven for Three" series with Emanuel Ax and Leonidas Kavakos.
Born in Paris to Chinese parents and educated at Juilliard and Harvard, Ma has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Birgit Nilsson Prize, performing for nine U.S. presidents. He plays three legendary instruments: a 2003 Moes & Moes, a 1733 Montagnana, and the 1712 Davidoff Stradivarius.