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CD - 2-Disc Set
When Yo-Yo Ma made his first recording of J. S. Bach's six suites for solo cello in 1982, he was already a classical celebrity but not yet the superstar he would soon become. This recording, in fact, was one of the key steps in his rise to the top: Not only did it earn the first of his long list of Grammy Awards, but on a less tangible level, like Glenn Gould's "Goldberg" Variations in the 1950s, Ma's Bach was the one classical LP everyone seemed to own in the '80s. It's no less inspiring now than it was two decades ago, partly because it's like a crucible for all the praiseworthy qualities that have marked this musician's work since that time: the soulful intensity of the Preludes and Sarabandes, the dark beauty of the Allemandes, the graceful lyricism of some Menuetts and Gigues -- and the propulsive rhythmic drive of others -- and the warmth and richness of Ma's tone throughout. Youthfully vibrant yet fully mature in their carefully considered approach to every detail of phrasing and expression, these performances set a high benchmark for modern cello playing, just as earlier recordings of the Bach suites by Casals and Fournier had done in their own time. Ma made a second recording of the suites in the late '90s, which became the soundtrack to a six-part film series -- and considering how central this music has been in his career, no one should be surprised if he returns to it again in the future. But this set remains irreplaceable, especially in its new midprice reissue in Sony's Great Performances series. Scott Paulin, Barnes & Noble