Track Listing

1. Unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major
2. Prelude
3. Fear Tango
4. Butterfly's Day Out
5. Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan
6. Slavonic Dance No. 2 in E minor, Op.72
7. Three Preludes
8. Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
9. American Collection Theme
10. Sonata for Cello and Piano in F Major, Op. 99
11. IV. Allegro molto
12. The Eternal Vow from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
13. Erbarme dich (Matthdus-Passion)
14. Quartet for Piano & Strings No. 2 in G minor, Op. 45
15. IV. Allegro molto
16. Vocalise
17. Libertango
18. Simple Gifts
19. Appalachia Waltz

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #50585 in Music
• Released on: 2001-09-18
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
Except for one "previously unreleased" recording and two new ones, this is a compilation of segments taken from older Yo-Yo Ma CDs, perhaps to whet listeners' appetite to hear the entire records. The disc represents a triumph of performance over material. The program consists of short pieces and single movements of long ones and serves to display Yo-Yo Ma's extraordinary versatility, his spectacular instrumental and musical gifts, and his remarkable ability to invest everything he plays with the same commitment and emotional concentration. There is no logic to the sequence, except that it begins and ends with solo cello. Bach, whom Ma plays tuned normally when unaccompanied and tuned low with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, may justify the CD's title but seems out of place. Moreover, juxtaposing him with O'Connor and Piazzolla is jarring, though the Tangos are beautiful. The transcription of Dvorák's lovely E-minor Slavonic Dance, despite the participation of violinist Itzhak Perlman and his golden tone, sounds like a movie soundtrack: all bravura and cheap effects. The playing's the thing, and it is stunning, not only Yo-Yo Ma's, but that of all his collaborators, from vocalists Bobby McFerrin and Alison Krauss to pianist Emanuel Ax, Ma's duo partner of 25 years. Ax joins Ma for the Finale of Brahms's second cello sonata; that is what you may find yourself humming at the end. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews

A good sampler
As previous reviews have stated this CD is a sampler from previous albums. So if you are a long time Yo-Yo Ma fan this CD is not going to pleasurable and you may actually find it jarring. But if you are just trying out Ma and don't know what to get or to try afterall, CDs are pricey, then get this CD.

If you are a huge fan of his _Soul of Tango_ then get this CD just for the unreleased cut of Piazolla's Tango Sensations: Fear (it is a great piece full of energy). You may also want to get this CD for the Alison Krauss cut of Simple Gifts.

For the truly thrifty who think that the MP3 or OOG version of the music (ripped on premium ware and played on a higher end stereo) will be satisfactory I would argue that you will lose a great deal of richness so, get the CDs of Ma's music for fuller quality.

This CD is good for the beginner and for those who compulsively collect Ma cuts but for the average fan it is a skip.

Awesome
While most people on this site see the "classic" in the title of the album as referring to classical music only, they are mistaken. Classic Yo-Yo refers to his style, not the genre into which his music choices fall. The list of tracks alone should have been a big enough clue that the music isn't all classical. Judging this album, or any album for that matter, on just its title is simply foolish. And while this is technically a solo album, the way Yo-Yo brings in guest artists to perform with him shows his flexibility as an artist. His version of Simple Gifts is so much more than a school chorus; it is an amazing cellist playing the accompaniment on a song that is meant to be sung.

On a more positive note, I found every track beautiful, from the elegant solo cello in the Bach cello suite to the haunting vocal line in the Bobby McFerrin piece. Yo-Yo Ma gathered a wide range of intriguing pieces to make this fantastic album.

Bravo!
Many people seem not enjoy this varied collection of Yo-Yo Ma's music...I think just the opposite! I loved every moment of this CD; to me every piece was the "best of the best" of Yo-Yo Ma's music. The CD begins with a Bach cello suite, which brilliantly showcases Ma's rich-sounding cello-playing in stunning solo. His samplings of tango music are not to be beaten either-the "Libertango" is filled with the exotically exciting sounds of many different instruments which complement the perfect "tango sounding" cello. Gershwin's famous first prelude gets a new twist with brightly swinging cello and fitting piano accompaniment, and "Simple Gifts", with Alison Krauss singing, is a simple yet deeply feeling arrangement of a timeless hymn-certainly not to be missed! Last, but certainly not least, some highlights of Ma's Appalachian CDs are included and showcase this uniquely American form of music wonderfully. OK, I'll admit that the order and compilation of this music is a little different...but I think you'll find, like I have, that each piece is like a beautiful gem-shining and stunning and able to stand on its own.