During his final illness in 1933, Elgar hummed the concierto's first theme to a friend and said "If ever after I'm dead you hear someone whistling this tune on the Malvern Hills, don't be alarmed, it's only me."
This concerto was never popular until Jaqueline Du Pre made it popular. Elgar has fallen out of favor with the public as a composer so this was his last significant work he ever wrote and its debut was a disaster. Sadly -- great music often sits in obscurity. But it truly is a master master master piece -- even musically more significant than Dvorak's Concerto.
I don't know how Elgar was able to express so deeply and fully what sounds like the suffering of mankind. I can't think of any other piece of his that comes close to the profundity of this concerto. Yo Yo Ma of course wrung every tear drop he could out of the music. An absolutely wonderful performance.
aimeemacdn take trip, make a journey through Worcestershire, where he lived, you’ll hear and see it it in the trees, the sky, the rain, the wind, the seasons. It’s unlike any other part of England, even the very next county. The countryside spoke to him and he made it sound
@@tomtd you are so right. I live within sight of Elgar's birthplace and his music speaks back to the oak trees, looming Malverns and the constantly changing skies.
I can't keep my mouth shut, I have to say something. I know absolutely nothing about classical music. From what I can hear (and see on this RU-vid video), Elgar was a very serious composer. All the way through this piece there are swirling intensities. And this man Yo Yo Ma certainly knows how to play every note with equal intensity. The two definitely go together. I just wish that Elgar could hear and see too. It would melt his heart. From skipping to bowing one's head, there are many moods in this concerto. I wish I could understand it all.
+Tony Harvell Yeah, a lot of different things were swirling through Elgars head when he composed this piece. It was one of his later works, and was created in the aftermath of World War I, which had deeply touched and horrified him. His mind was swirling with ideals and horrors, and he had a certain level of turmoil that can be felt through this piece at time.
+2Ctravelover Very good to hear your thoughts. Sometimes somethings just happen that we happen to be there; what gracious luck to become aware of those "Great Things" for which we "just happen" to witness. I think I know the feeling very well. Thanks for your thoughts.
It's amazing to see the trust and interplay that Yo-Yo Ma has with the orchestra members. It's truly a collaboration that is moving to see and experience.
I play the violin, and I think that the cello has such a great tone, especially the A and D strings (the highest 2 strings), bc it is not such a high pitch, but it has that low/saturated kind of sound. It is kinda hard to explain the sound I hear. 😂 fancier violins also have that saturated kind of sound and I am just in love with it 🤩🤩😍😍
The first time I ever heard this, it was played by Jaqueline du Pres. sadly she is no longer with us, but Yo Yo is a worthy successor. I am not a musician, but how can anyone not be completely captivated by this.
Gareth Carruthers Actually I do believe that the cello Yo Yo Ma is using in this performance is the same one that Jacqueline used in her performance of the same piece. After she passed, the cello was given to Yo Yo, and I believe he used her cello in this performance in her honor.
Random Waffle Woman . Thank you for that.. I am one of those ignorant people who knows very little about music, but love the sound of it. Elgar is probably one of my favourite composers, and Jacqueline de pres, was probably the most sensitive of players. She set the bar very high.
Gareth Carruthers you’re welcome, and I agree. I learned that fact from someone who studies music theory and is also very interested in Elgar and Jacqueline
I woke up to a dark, rainy Sunday morning. After listening to this wonderful piece of music, I don't care if it rains all day. This concerto never fails to heal a sore soul.
What a wonderful sound, melody like a singing voice. His rubato, like gravity... He drops something heavy , let it bounce but pick it up right up ... Elegant
I was in attendance this past weekend when Yo-Yo Ma and the Boston Symphony Orchestra performed this magnificent piece at Tanglewood. You could not hear a pin drop throughout the performance. This piece is spectacular, mesmerizing, intense, insightful and left more than a couple of tears in my eyes. Read and learn the backstory to this composition and composer, and it will be more meaningful.
I so love this cello concerto, Was raised in a family of music- my dad played Bass fiddle , piano and organ and I played clarinet, saxophone and piano and my siblings all played instruments as well. i played in both band and orchestra through high school and love to relax at night with a good glass of wine & cello music- my kids think I'm nuts. But classical music- you make up the story in your head to go with the music- it sparks the imagination unlike the rap and techno music today
Why do you need to bash other genres of music? On every single youtube comment section I see some boomer who, along with showing appreciation of classical music (which isn't a bad thing at all, I love classical music myself), feels the need to bash other genres/musicians. No wonder the classical community is seen as a place full of elitist boomer scumbags.
@@andreibors7930 as a brazilian, i can tell you that this is a global phenomenon, here it is very common to see elitist boomers thinking they are superior to others for having a classical musical style. In Brazil, there are two styles of music most popularly heard: sertanejo and funk. And these two musical styles suffer a huge prejudice by Brazilian boomers who think they are better for having a certain taste. this is the main mistake of classical music: the boomers
so emotional, heart-touching. I love this concerto. I'll use it for my project examination. (the first movement). God Bless Elgar and his generations wherever they are.
I think I will burst if I hear this live. I really will. I can’t take the emotions raw and LIVE and surrounded by a theater while this is played in front of me *goodebumps
Elgar's lament can be felt in the heart with this masterpiece. And the heavy-handed technique Yo-Yo ma uses is perfect for this piece. Definitely one of the defining pieces of classical music. For listeners, and performers, and composer. When the full orchestra joins, magic.
nothing will ever compare to the feeling you get from hearing this piece performed live by any talented cellist. its amazing. that intro hits you like a truck every god damn time. listening to the soloist at my school perform the first movement of this piece was the only reason i looked forward to orchestra class. the delicate sorrow turning into unretaliated rage and then back to sorrow gives me goose bumps every time.
I think this is the first search result when you google "effortless"... It's like he merely has to raise a finger to make the cello sing, while also having unmatchable intensity. Beautiful.
This version is simply amazing , one of best versions , maybe the best i never heard . Of course , Zinman ....well , very hard to explain the great conductor that he is . I really enjoy this version of Elgar cello concert.
What an amazing range, from the composer and realized by the artist. I cannot imagine the combination of drill, study, vision, and transfiguration that goes into such an extraordinary presentation.
I've listed to various of the versions of this concerto on youtube and not one of them can even hold a candle to this version. This Ma guy is truly in a complete class of his own.
The smile between Yo Yo Ma and the violinist at 9:54 was such a beautiful moment. Communication in music makes for a much more interesting performance.
