A Gathering of Friends [Colored Vinyl] [B&N Exclusive]

by Yo-Yo Ma, John Williams, New York Philharmonic

Overview

It is not clear whether two persons constitute a "gathering," but the long collaboration between cellist Yo-Yo Ma and composer John Williams appears to involve a genuine friendship. Perhaps New York Philharmonic harpist Jessica Zhou, present in the rarely heard concert piece Highwood's Ghost, fills out the gathering. Most of the program on this 2022 release, predictably headed for the best-seller charts, consists of film themes, both familiar (a group from Schindler's List) and a bit less so (the lovely "With Malice Toward None," from the film Lincoln); all undeniably fit Ma's style well. The biggest news here is a revision of the Williams Cello Concerto made by the nonagenarian composer, who shows no signs of slowing down. Although clearly the product of a cinema composer, this concerto holds off on the big movie themes until the finale, which Williams' revision sharpens for greater emotional impact. The work has an interesting balance of popular elements and the possibilities of the classical concerto, a balance that Ma and Williams, conducting the Philharmonic, strike effectively. Consider the second movement, "Blues," which is not an obvious blues but deploys orchestration and register as well as melodic contour and harmony in service of the blues mood. There is no question that fans of either Ma or Williams, or both, will eat this album up; what is novel is that others can hear it profitably as well. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	10/14/2022
Label:	Sony Classical
UPC:	0196587096915
Rank:	8690

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Cello Concerto~I. Theme & Cadenza
2. Cello Concerto~II. Blues
3. Cello Concerto~III. Scherzo
4. Cello Concerto~IV. Song
5. Lincoln~With Malice Toward None
6. Munich~A Prayer for Peace

Disc 2

7. Three Pieces from Schindler's List~I. Theme
8. Three Pieces from Schindler's List~II. Krak¿¿w Ghetto - Winter '41
9. Three Pieces from Schindler's List~III. Remembrances
10. Highwood's Ghost

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Yo-Yo Ma   Primary Artist,Cello
John Williams   Primary Artist,Conductor
New York Philharmonic   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Obie O'Brien   Music Direction
Pablo Sainz Villegas   Guitar
Jessica Zhou   Harp

Technical Credits

John Williams   Composer,Producer
Ramiro Belgardt   Editing
Angie Teo   Scoring Crew
Dann Thompson   Mixing Assistant
Shawn Murphy   Mixing,Engineer
David Foil   Liner Notes
Mark Graham   Music Librarian
Ron Jaramillo   Creative Director
Jamie Richardson   Coordinating Producer
Ian Kagey   Scoring Crew
Erik Swanson   Mixing Assistant
Tim Martyn   Mastering
Lawrence Sumulong   Photography
Brian Welesko   Design
Jing Ma   Coordinating Producer
Zachary Crystal   A&R
Sophie Greaves   Coordinating Producer