Customer Reviews

Yo-Yo Ma - Simply Baroque ~ Bach & Boccherini / ABO, Koopman

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I am not a connoisseur of classicial music by any means; however, recently I saw an interview with Yo-Yo Ma and clips of him performing with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra were shown. I immediately fell in love with the sound and purchased the CD the next day. This music is joyful! It stays with me long after I've listened to it. The cello Mr. Ma uses is a 1712 Stradivarius with gut strings, so the sound is much softer. Because of the period instruments used, when I am listening I feel a connection with the people of the era who were listening to the same sounds. It's an incredible album, and I cannot think of anyone who would not adore it!

Yo-Yo Ma's "Simply Baroque" is an elegant collection of works by by Johann Sebastian Bach and Luigi Boccherini. It's interesting that Ma and conductor Ton Koopman chose to put Bach first and then Boccherini (Boccherini was seven when Bach died in 1750). It gives you some idea of the progression of baroque music in Europe at the time.

Everything here is a winner. Ma's cello serenely grounds the excited strings on Bach's "Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren," and on the next selection, "Erbarme Dich" (from Bach's immaculate "St. Matthew's Passion"), Ma gives the cello nearly human qualities--the yearning, fear, and grave consideration implicit in this masterpiece are all here, and all are almost preternaturally expressive. What a shame that Bach never lived to hear Ma's performances!

On Bach's indelible "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," Ma's playing takes wing. He draws out the line of notes with such expression, such formidable mastery of his instrument, that my usual reaction to this particular rendition is awe--both at Bach's compositional abilities and at Ma's skill at making this old favorite sound utterly new yet utterly familiar at the same time. On a less familiar Bach piece entitled "Lar Mein Herz Die Munze Sein," Ma's cello exchanges confidences with a mellow oboe. The result is transfixing.

As far as the Boccherini pieces, we have both "Concerto in G Major" and "Concerto in D Major." Both are triumphs of musical filigree and delicate rills of notes. Ma and Koopman have done the baroque music world a very great service in recording this magnificent CD.

Yo-Yo Ma is wonderful, (as usual), Ton Koopman and the Amsterdam Baroque play masterfully. And together they create a warm and gorgeous sound. This recording is so relaxing and a joy to listen to. I heard it first in a local music store on one of those listening stations, and I was so impressed. I bought it and listened to the rest of the recording, and it is just wonderful! A must if you love baroque music!

Yo Yo Ma and Tom Koopman team up here for what is possibly one of the best Bach cello compilations out there. But he doesn't just cover Bach, but he covers Boccherini with just as much (if not a little more) flare. The cello is milky smooth and completely thick especially in the opening tracks, something that Ma changes as he gets to the faster, more delicate areas later in the record. The Production is just fantastic, better than any other record out there. You can hear the cello breathe---

Last year I bought my mom a copy of "Simply Baroque" because she was a fan of Yo-Yo Ma's music. Whenever I visited my parents' house in northern Minnesota, they would often play "Simply Baroque". The music immediately took to me like a duck to water. So I had to have a copy of "Simply Baroque" in my cd collection. I don't normally listen to a lot of classical or baroque music since I am more into goth, industrial, and techno music. The louder the better. But every now and then I need to chill out to some soothing music after a long day at the office. "Simply Baroque" is one of those cds I love to chill out too. I grew up on Bach's music as a child (before my ears became tainted from rock 'n roll). "Simply Baroque" takes me back to the days when my parents would put on their baroque records. I especially adore "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring". Yo-Yo Ma's rendition of my favorite Bach song is breathtakingly spectacular. He also does a wonderous job with "Air On a G String". The Boccherini segment of the cd was enjoyable. I am not really familiar with his work though. I found it a quite a contrast from Bach's moody music to the lighthearted sounds of Boccherini's music. Overall this entire cd is enjoyable to listen to on a cold Minnesota winter's night with a cup of steaming hot chocolate.

Yo-Yo Ma never ceases to take my breath away. There are no words that describe the feeling I get when listening to the music that he creates with his cello. His expression, interpretation, and skill takes me into another world. Ma is of a place far beyond this earth, and he lets us taste a little of his world through this glorious music.

I bought this CD because it was Yo Yo Ma. He's such an incredible talent. The first time I listened to it, I'll admit I was a little underwhelmed. There were some tracks I was floored by (like 1,2,4, 16) but my overall impression was that it seemed inconsistent. But there was something about the recording that stuck with me and each day I found myself drawn to it and I would listen again. And something that I missed the first time, would gently nudge me and I was like wow, that's really something. Listen to it with an open ear and put aside your criticisms of bowing technique, etc. Yo Yo and Ton have a passion and enthusiasm for this music that reaches out and slowly pulls you in. This is one of the few classical recordings I've heard recently where I could tell that these musicians enjoyed making this CD and it's a continuing delight for me to listen.

I was in awe the first time I played this CD. I felt as though I could feel the music in my mouth and sensed it through my nose. It was pure loveliness. Yoyo Ma is definately a master at his craft. Although I have been a long time classical music lover, this was my first classical CD purchase. There was no way I could leave the store with out buying it. It is hypnotic and I was truly moved by his authentic arrangements of his selected Baroque pieces. He even has his precious cello altered to authenticize the traditional Baroque sound of that period. A must have for ALL music lovers.

I was initially concerned about this recording consisting of transcriptions played on period authentic instruments, the whole being somehow below some kind of standard. But the music is beautifully played, relaxing and invigorating. Ultimately, it is how the music moves you that counts.

Though this recording is over six years old now, it remains one or the mainstays of everyone's collection of music meant to soothe and succor. Yo-Yo Ma is at his peak in this repertoire (and that is saying a lot about an artist who has successfully conquered just about every form of music for the cello!).

The real delight of this collection for this listener is the decision to include transcriptions for the cello of some of Bach's most beautiful melodies. His eloquent phrasing and compassion for such vocal solos as the 'Erbarme dich' from the St Matthew Passion, the famous 'Air on a G String', 'Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben' and 'Lass mein Herz die Munze sein' make this recital worth buying. Add to these two perfect performances of the Luigi Boccherini Cello Concertos No. 5 and 7 and the program is richly rounded.

Ma is sensitively supported by Ton Koopman and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra. From the first to the last work this collection is a treasure trove. Grady Harp, September 05