Cellist Yo-Yo Ma has done about everything imaginable in music. He uses the cello in arranged versions of music you don’t expect. To give myself some ideas I’m listening to some of them right now, like his album with Appalachian bluegrass music. It is interesting to hear him fit in the role of the cello in there. He does the same here. I am impressed with the man himself, I am impressed with his musical skills, but I’m not very convinced this crossover thing is working. Ma also works with an ensemble of his own making, called the Silk Road Ensemble. It is the same story there: disappointing and unimaginative arrangements of well known works.
Yet much to my surprise this record is the exception. Maybe it is because I don’t know most of the melodies, but they sound quite good under Yo-Yo Ma’s talented bowing. He plays here with an ensemble called Pro Musica Nipponia that is surprisingly good and inspired. Buying this record was a bit of a gamble, but it clearly paid off.