Yo-Yo Ma - Vivaldi's Cello (Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra) [Classical][mp3 320]
Yo-Yo Ma - Vivaldi's Cello (Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra)
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
Conductor: Ton Koopman
Performer: Wouter Verschuren, Jonathan Manson, Yo-Yo Ma, Ton Koopman, Mike Fentross, et al.
Orchestra: Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra
Audio CD (March 30, 2004)
Label: Sony
Bitrate: 320 kbps
The great Yo-Yo Ma has recently (in addition to his world music explorations) moved to the baroque cello, a so-called period instrument, and his transition has been remarkably smooth. He is indeed a musical polyglot, and this CD finds him solidly in the heart of the Baroque period, with music by Vivaldi. In addition to three concerti the composer wrote for cello, there are some fascinating transcriptions. The Largo violin solo from the "Winter" concerto of the Four Seasons is here beautifully played on cello, its darker tone added substituting gravity for chill in the wintry landscape. A concerto originally for viola d'amore, lute and strings has been transformed into one for cello, organ, strings and continuo, with Baroque expert Ton Koopman as transposer and organist (and sympathetic, energetic conductor throughout). And oddest of all, Koopman has created cello solos out of arias (one of which is helped by a perky bassoon) originally composed for female voice from a couple of operas, the oratorio Juditha Triumphans, and the familiar "Laudamus te" from the famous "Gloria." Leave it to these musicians to re-invent Vivaldi with respect and a clear ear for musical values--not to mention sheer entertainment and a forward propulsion which makes it all so invigorating. ~ Robert Levine
I am probably more a fan of Vivaldi than I am of the Cello. Attribute this to my being a wind player and most enamored of the toots and squeaks that are our personal domain. But Yo-Yo Ma transcends and musical favoritism. He has certainly lifted the cello out of its undeserved anonymity and brought it into the musical foreground. He has a tremendous control over his sonority and complete loyalty to the sense of his music. In other words, he is much more than another great cellist; he is also an eminent musician. Fifty albums, 15 Grammy awards and a taste that spans genres - that's genius.
This quickly becomes obvious in the album at hand. Playing a 1712 Stradivarius specifically reconfigured as a baroque instrument he approaches a variety of Vivaldi's music, both written for the cello or newly transcribed for Ma. You get three cello Concerti (the G Minor for two cellos with Jonathan Manson, the B Flat Major, and the C Minor). All strong, performances that balance an analytic understanding of the music's requirements with a fine sensitivity for the artistic content.
The Concerto for Viola d'Amore, Lute and Orchestra, is rewritten for Cello, Organ, and Strings with Ton Koopman on organ. Koopman's choices of voices on this piece are a bit strange. The organ tootles a more than you would expect - occasionally sounding like a recorder on steroids. But Ma rides it out in style capturing the piece for his own. The Largo from Winter has been arranged so that the solo violin is now a solo cello. Since this is a beautiful melody in any case, it works, but this is more than a trivial rearrangement - more of a rewriting.
In addition there are rearrangements of some six opera and oratorio arias. All are interesting and involve some very performances from the other soloists as well as Yo-Yo Ma's own high standard of playing (including an oboe/cello duet with Alfredo Bernardini). I'm astonished at the resources Koopman seems to have at hand with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, which seem to defy the principle that original instrument ensembles should sound reedy and a bit weird.
[Dedicated to the memory of Bob Zeidman, one of Amazon's best reviewers and a voice that will always be missed.]
This is very accessible music written by one wizard and played by another. Make it a favored addition to your classical shelf. ~ Marc Ruby
Vivaldi's Cello
Wouter Verschuren (Performer),
Jonathan Manson (Performer),
Yo-Yo Ma (Performer),
Antonio Vivaldi (Composer),
Ton Koopman (Conductor, Performer),
Mike Fentross (Performer),
Alfredo Bernardini (Performer),
Michel Henry (Performer),
Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra),
Margaret Faultless (Performer)
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