Yo-Yo Ma: Cello Concerto
Barber's elegant and lithe cello concerto deserves much greater attention than it usually gets. Tuneful, lyrical, and full of fun, it was for years avoided by cellists because of its excruciating difficulty. The piece holds no terrors for Yo-Yo Ma, who plays with perfect fluency and grace. Britten's Cello Symphony may be less difficult to play, but it's a much darker, more disturbing piece than the Barber, and Ma's conviction and authority keep you listening from the gnarly opening right through to the hopeful ending.--David Hurwitz