New York Philharmonic / Yo-Yo Ma / Alan Gilbert by Salonen, Mahler, Od (2017/2017), Dirigent Alan Gilbert, Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg, Germany

His incredibly pure tone, the beauty of his sound, his candour and talent for communication are all legendary: for many, Yo-Yo Ma is considered the best cellist in the world. It doesn’t matter whether he appears side by side with top international symphony orchestras, his Silk Road Ensemble or on Sesame Street, he always makes the musical moment a very special one. Yo-Yo Ma is now joined by a delegation from New York for his third appearance at the Elbphilharmonie. Just like Alan Gilbert, music director of the New York Philharmonic, Yo-Yo Ma grew up in the US metropole. Together they give the first performance of a new cello concerto by Esa-Pekka Salonen. The evening is crowned by Gustav Mahler’s Fourth Symphony with its heavenly closing movement, where the sky is literally »full of violins«.