Yo-Yo Ma Plays the Swan

[bloubullebo123]

The face can be a bit distracting, but it makes the performance more intimate in a way. He looks pretty young in this, the last time I saw him he had a lot more control over his facial expression.

[w3t8ack90]

My girlfriend play this piece for our UIL competition and she played it just lovely <3

[gasparhunt]

Wow, I'd never heard it performed quite this well before - slower tempo than most dare to take, and having the technique and musicality to pull it off really took it one level higher...

[mmaybrown]

beautiful!

[laurabigail]

asi debe de sentirse alguna vez la musa...

[Nodame2006]

Please do not upload my videos on your channel.

[Nodame2006]

Please do not upload my video on your channel.

[tuxx95]

0:44 jizz in my pantz

[bubuchahchah]

@tuxx95 LMAO 0.0

[tcykgreis]

My Favorite cellist was always Piatagorsky. That form out of his family-type get togethers with Jascha Heifetz . Now I have to promote Yo-Yo Ma to the number one spot.

[zetabyte99]

his vibrato is genius. i'm only on volume 4 of suzuki

[patcalisura]

close your eyes and imagine a swan gliding leisurely on a beautiful pond....Yo..yo..ma must be thinking of thise while playing...well....you must have the best technique and musicality to play this piece...may look simple but quite the opposite....breathtaking!

[pebbli94]

this inspired me to learn the cello.

[suzukitoshiyuki1]

wouldn't we all like our own swan song sound as peaceful, dignified and yearning for a final warm embrace from God the way yo yo ma brought to life a masterpiece from saint-saens? yo yo ma is warmth and brilliance combined.

[Brightsphere100]

Alla faccia di chi disse e dice, critica del tempo e moderna in primis, che Saint-Saens è apparso il più delle volte POCO ISPIRATO nelle sue composizioni. Io trovo "The Swan" un'opera PREGEVOLE, come in generale tutto il Carnevale degli animali.

[Nodame2006]

Please do not copy and upload my videos without giving me credit. I will stop uploading if this continues.

[szar101]

I have never heard anything more beautiful. He makes it look like someone who does not know how to play the cello can just pick it put and play. Yo-Yo MA is an incredible musician. Listening to him play makes me cry.

[KissHope]

Szar,

Might I share with you a cd this is full of exquist music "The Classical Love Album" is the name. This piece is on the cd. It is the most wonderful collection that I have ever listened to. Blessing to you...Hope

[pianopl8er]

omg he play so good at this dying swan

[slayerula]

yo-yo ma came to my school in fifth grade and played this song for the orchestra only. i am way luck!!! he is amazing!!!

[MagnusFogg]

...what on earth was going on in the mind of Saint-Saëns when he wrote this ?...I wonder...

[jean090771]

yo yo is fantastic at this piece. iwonder what saint saens would think

[pro4help]

Saint-Saëns would be pround.

[sassyreggae]

@jean090771 I believe he would say, my God, this is exactly how it should be played.

[trackguy1]

I'm learning this too! I can play the whole song (I've been practicing for 2 months now) but I can never compare myself to Ma. The rich, beautiful tone that rings from his cello is amazing. Some people say it's the cello. Some people say it's his bow. It's his heart people. His dedicated heart.

[Arodang]

Two months? That's a long time for such a short piece.

[prayformercy4]

trackguy1: id say 90% heart and skill, and 10% cello and bow.

[bullrider831]

I am learning this piece right now. I have the first line down Haha.

[silvia20061]

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! cosa lindaa

[takhirviolinest]

This time was his perfect time. Now day's he have fantastique sound, also he is the best Cello player.

[ssassassisquad]

he plays like a beautiful swan but he doesn't look like one...=)

[highbyesky]

was this song used in the Pursuit of Happiness...coz the beginning of the melody sounds VERY much the same as in Pursuit of Hapiness

[MrsPixieAnne]

This song is so incredibly beautiful.

[eddyji999]

i want this on repeat for a week

[mid3259]

A most beautiful song

[jessygnr]

he's good....i do preffer mischa maisky

[ARIandINBI]

he IS a god!

[mojian62]

NOT! But he's beautiful!

[kirbyboy321]

........he's beautiful????? Only the song is beautiful, right?

[raulishnikov]

he is beautiful too because of his artistry and sensibility, wich are added to the beautiest compositions.

[teresatita]

incantevole!

[karalover123]

He is not ugly , you are moron and **** He is a god

[gorkythe45]

Your brain nails more sk80soarus

[vanessapastor]

he's not fat, he's ugly

[xiaoxiayu]

who cares, he's more succesful and richer than you will ever be

[Kairi271]

@xiaoxiayu PONED!

[jwunschie14]

@xiaoxiayu The reason Ma gets so much more hate than other artists, is simply because others are jealous of his success. He is a champion of this instrument...

[springhave]

he is fat

[zucchini2007]

Yo-Yo Ma is clearly a cello virtuoso.

But Han-na Chang can give this guy a run for his money. I love the way she played several Vivaldi concertos. She has a very energetic, clean, rich sound. So I like her better than him.

[youwrotethis]

I honestly think they're on the same level. I mean they can both play crazy good, I wouldn't want to listen to one over the other.

[jimicheesecake]

clearly

[jellybabyeater101]

he looks like he's having a silent orgasm, haha.

but beautiful playing xD

[youwrotethis]

That is so true lol! But yeah, he puts SO much emotion into his playing. That's probably why he's so good. And why the heck is someone going around thumbing down everyone who says their honest, polite opinion?

[dasteufelhund]

Mischa Maisky plays a lot more fluid than this, and the downsized Du Pre Cello just don't sound right.

[rapfan228]

i disagree, you can barely hear maisky play - theres no dynamic contrast, and his phrases end too suddenly

this vid of yo yo ma's is easily the best on youtube, period

[dasteufelhund]

ends too suddenly?? What??? The subtlety is all there and it is evident that you and I don't hear things the same. Your no dynamic contrast, tell me, where does Ma play that in 4 or 8 bar phrase? Maisky's phrasing drips with contrast with every note.

[pennymusicMAma]

Celloics, When my son was a toddler, I

played selected classical music for him

on his little stereo player before bedtime.

He particularly enjoyed Saint-Saen's

'Carnival of the Animals'- his favorite the

cello solo of"The Swan". He grew up to be a musician like his mum.

[pennymusicMAma]

Sometimes the perceived simplicity of a composition, reflects the true artistry of

the performing musician. However, what may sound rather simple to the listener,

is a challenge to the performing artist's

Musicality. Yo-Yo Ma is a Master of all.

[nahor88]

I kinda wish the audience didn't have to applaud so loudly at the end...

I was so enamored and enveloped by his playing, and then... BAM, actually startled me, lulz.

[holywells]

Martha Babcock also had a very nice version of this when she played with John Williams.

[vanbavan]

my god... simply this is it, i am a dancer myself but you can not dance for his swan...he plays way more beautiful than ballet dancer does. too beautiful

[cattleman6420012000]

Superbly played. Lovely tone and wonderful freedom of bow. Magnificent player.

[pulguita110]

i saw him at carnegie hall

[preposterous3637]

LUCKY! ! !

[sk80soarus]

at 1:08.5, he nails it.

[DerekG8383]

Wow, he sucks! JK that was great. Absolutely amazing!

[mynameisyibble]

The best, in my opinion. Maisky at a close second. Webber just can't compare :-D

[joschigirl22]

it's really wonderful!!!!

[smiley81589]

I play the cello and I can play this piece, yet not nearly as well as this. It's amazing how a simple, short piece like the Swan can take so much skill and practice to master. Suzuki Book 6, yet Yo-Yo Ma plays at leverl 62348923472389467189374134!

[rapfan228]

hands down the best recording of this piece on youtube

[rapfan228]

actually, hands down best recording of this piece period.

[fercha90s]

wow beautiful!! i'm learning this song, it's gorgeous!!! Yo-Yo Ma is great!!!

[DanielCifuentesBass]

muy inseguros esos vibratos ! y los pasajes no son claros... muy regular este yoyoma...

jejejeje MUCHO TESO!!!

simplemente es un genio

[stratect]

Como se ve/oye la "inseguridad" en un vibrato?

[NOPELAOS]

when i hear yo yo ma i feel he is connecting me beyond the earth, with the unknown, with the heaven

[stratect]

Well,

I believe this is definitely his very own personal interpretation and sublimely done at that. Bravo! What emotion, what feellings! I am not sure however, all cellist would put as much sadness into this piece. Some would feel Saint Saens envisioned both sadness AND happiness when he wrote The Swan.

[brkdaice]

I couldn't agree with you more. Although this is an excellent performance by Yo Yo Ma, it lacks that elemental contrast of sadness and happiness that makes this beautiful masterpiece in a class all it's own.

[cailleyrocks]

yo yo ma rocks!!!!!!!!!

[Iflysti06]

I personally like Mischa Maisky better but nonetheless Yo Yo is damn good.

[angharadceri17]

Beautiful.

[WROrchestra]

Is that John Williams conducting?

[Naruto53538]

yes it is

[zezimazedan]

das arme otchstr

[stratect]

Ja, die Orchestra wuste nicht was zu machen, weinen oder lachen.... yet it was sublimely played. He is a master at stretching a note on one bowing - with superb intonation at that! Cellists can recognize and appreciate this more than anyone else =:)

[missreggae1luv]

so lyrically performed. Bravissimo.

[saintansele]

This performance is so sublime, encores often reflect the feelings of the artist at that moment in time. Ma seems to be playing for himself & we are priveleged to listen in. As to this instrument, I have heard that Ma mostly plays his 1733 Montegana, & plays the Strad that was owned by Du Pre for Bach & other early classics. Just guessing here. I am in awe at what he can do with one sustained note, at approx 2:30 & held for 10 seconds. Amazing beauty & complexity from this great prodigy.

[cailleyrocks]

i agree he is one of the best!!!!!

[missdeal07]

This brings me to tears. I started cello in college -- until I cut off the tip of my finger working at the YMCA. I also sang .... cello is most like the human vocal chords. It instantly transports me to another place and time.

...... sigh .....

[BeNeath0]

i played this for the prima la musica competition in austria but it just never sounds so good like him...yoyo ma is perfect..

[jch35vt39h206]

Stunningly beautiful!!!

[toph4ever]

I love how he always takes a popular or beautiful song that you expect from him and he plays it so perfectly that you never want to listen to any other recording of the song again! He seriously looks like a rabbit. I'm so subscribing.

[Jokanaan]

I don't think there's a more expressive instrument in the orchestra, in my opinion.

[palabraserrantes]

Maravilloso, muchas gracias

[TrupeloH]

just breath taking ...so much passion for the piece...Perfection ;-X

[Irishoreo07]

absolute perfection. he is an inspiration to all cellist serious or hobbyists.

[moonhowlz]

perfeccione. sinceramente maravilloso.

perfect. its so wonderful, and beautiful.

[mominino]

wonderful...

[mikieboimusic]

I love this, truly beautiful.

[anohbey]

his sound is richer than julian lloyd webber's. although lloyd webber is good, i love mah's version. it's more heartfelt. more dramatic. more intense.

[cellistontherise]

his expression...call an ambulance! nah lol i <3 him and this is a good 1..

[blueinu26]

Absolute perfection, the love of the music and the feel of tranquailty that is present throughout the whole piece. Absolutely stunning.

p.s. found this song to be wonderful to putting cranky babies to sleep. just push repeat play on any modern CD players and turn it down.

[eblankendaal]

Thats what you get? if you play a cello that good, people start to make comments on your looks?

realy people, get a life.

[ricecreamdude]

I have to say that his interpretation of this piece is beautiful. However, his expressions are a little bit weird.

[richyrich356]

looks like a squirr

l too me....

[luv4cello195]

Do you have any respect for music at all?

Your comment is the equivelent to going to you mother's funeral and saying she looks kinda pale. I tried giving yu a thumbs downbut it was too low!

[moonwalker51292]

thats the good thing about yo yo ma, he's feeling the music, that's why his expression is pain.

[severelyaddictedgal]

listening to this song really makes me imagine a swan gliding through the water

[ipmoic]

He plays this at the very edge of slowness, yet he brings it off with incredible control and singing tone. Young musical genius often stretches things to the very limit. I wonder if he would do this today? I somehow doubt it.

[amandasarockstar]

Sounds FABULOUS; however he looks like a rabbit, carrots anyone?

[ricecreamdude]

Lol

[mbw12194]

is that his orgasm face?!?!?!?!

[ricecreamdude]

Probably

[kamikazex3]

I worship this man, and I don't even play cello. This was absolutely amazing.

[jiangkai86]

ditto

[meezpastrami94]

he's really really really really good but his expressions seem like he's in pain =)

[supermegaawesomestud]

yes he is the best of the best

YE

[jtvisionworld]

If i were a firgure skater I would totaly pick this song as my short program. its so beutiful and makes this move called "the drift" flo so niceley. OS im talking to you.

[pshchyeaitsmebitches]

absolutely gorgeous piece as well as the fact it's yo yo ma who's playing...cello is still my favorite instrument...if i was in fifth grade...i would choose it as my instrument all over again <333 XD

[bjdrivers]

Yo-Yo Ma is the best cellist ever.

[FilipeBarrosAlves]

I think that is Jaqueline du Pré

[triquera]

maybe

I don't know why people spammed you

they just didn't understand you tried to know what cello is it

I don't know if it's du Pré's cello (the one she gave to Ma before death)

they're just ignorant people

[FilipeBarrosAlves]

Exactly :S

Yo Yo Ma is an excellente cellist.

[cailleyrocks]

i agree he is the cellist!!!!!