New Impossibilities

Yo-Yo Ma (Artist), Silk Road Ensemble (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Silk Road Ensemble
• Audio CD (July 31, 2007)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: SONY CLASSICS
• ASIN: B000RIWAYE
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #42,751 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Arabian Waltz

2. Night of the Flying Horses Suite

3. Galloping Horses

4. Song of Eight Unruly Tipsy Poets

5. Shristi

6. The Silent City

7. Ambush from Ten Sides

8. Vocussion

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This latest addition to Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road project is a thrill a minute. The most "famous" composer represented here is Osvaldo Golijov, whose "Night of the Flying Horses" fascinates with its sampling of "Je crois entendre encore" from Bizet's Pearl Fishers, while a high violin line and mournful cello alternate above it; the piece goes wild about two-thirds of the way through in the section called, appropriately, "Gallop." The other composers all offer equally fascinating pieces as well: the thrilling rhythms of Rabih Abou-Khalil's "Arabian Waltz"; Zhou Long's "Song of the Eight Unruly Poets" (what a title!), with its high-pitched strings (members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra take part in many of the works); the cinematic battle music of "Ambush from Ten Sides," featuring the twangy, acidic tones of the pipa, which ends in a true conflagration of violence, complete with shouting; and "Vocussion," a brief, cool piece with scat singing and boom-boxing. There's more -- much more -- in this portrait of world music, and it's all wonderful. --Robert Levine

Product Description

For Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, New Impossibilities capt ures an extraordinary yearlong Silk Road Chicago celebration. Partnering with th e City of Chicago and its leading arts and cultural organizations, in performanc es, exhibitions, and workshops, the Silk Road Project traced the weave of tradit ion and innovation through Chicago. In New Impossibilities, recorded duri ng a series of sold-out concerts at Daniel Burnham's historic Orchestra Hall, Yo -Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble convey the essence of their unique creative cu ltural exchange.

More from Yo-Yo Ma

Silk Road Journeys: Beyond the Horizon	Appassionato	Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone
Obrigado Brazil	Vivaldi's Cello	The Essential Yo-Yo Ma

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A little thin, January 6, 2009

By	Lawrence J. Gubas (Las Vegas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As you might note from my other reviews, I find the work and range of Yo Yo Ma to be quite stimulating and wonderful to hear. I often take chances and buy his work without previewing it based on past happy purchases. I fell in love with the first album in the Silk Road series since it was full of bright new and interesting melodies and performances. It is surely a work of great interest. However, I found this album to be less bright and without the stimulating variety of the first work. The second was just alright and I find this one to be just dull. Maybe, it was my mood but that is my first reaction. I have seen the first two concerts that supported the first two albums and loved the music live and on disk. It is not that the idea has grown cold or old but the music does not have the vibrance of the first two works. I would go to listen to them first.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spend some magical moments, November 21, 2007

By	Linda Petersen "Linda" (Palmetto, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This compilation of new (to me) sounds was enchanting and well worth leisure listening. I wasn't quite expecting the unusual instruments to provide the level of musicality and transition they did. This album is a joy and credit to the innovation and vision of the composers, arrangers and musicians who created this beautiful presentation of New Impossibilities.
Linda Petersen

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truth in advertising, January 9, 2008

By	R. Kyle (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The label said, "It will rock your world." They weren't lying. I have joyously followed the Silk Road Journeys and this CD is a welcome addition. I honestly do not have the chops to give a meaningful review of classical music except to say that I thoroughly enjoy this recording.