Élégie opus 24 (Gabriel Fauré) / Yo-Yo Ma Cello

Yo-Yo Ma @ 1:06 and at @ 1:51
Festival Casals of 2005
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra
Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor
Location: Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferre (Fine Arts Center) in San Juan
Click here to bypass introduction 1:06

[@margoYTmusic]

My friend played this at a wake for two high school students who died in a car accident. The whole room was in tears. I love this piece.

[@francescakim8763]

@Margo Giddens yea the word “elegy” means something like a funeral or like when someone dies they say “that’s an elegy” so that’s why she/he probably played this piece

[@dreuvasdevil9395]

i'm so sorry

[@johnny1013johnny]

I played this for a project when I was in school, also wrote about how Faure's mental condition at the time affected this composition.

[@aseretkavon]

This song on its own is a complete masterpiece. Having Yo Yo Ma play it is another masterpiece of its own. So basically this video is a masterpiece squared. Hopefully, I'll be playing it as my senior solo for my cello teacher's senior recital before I go off to college. This song always touched my soul, and I love it so much! I hope I do half as well as this!

[@p3t3boss]

1:54 is where it starts

[@YTM021807]

Actually, it starts at 1:56 AFTER hearing the notes by the French Ambassador of Puerto Rico: Dr. Mark Bernard !

[@juliapatch3185]

I came here after a local flood took the life of Sgt. Eddison Hermond, who tried to save the life of a trapped woman. We can't exactly go to the funeral, but this gave some closure. Thank you, Mr. Ma, for your incredible soul.

[@katiemcginnis8961]

I didn't like how this song made me depressed......but then I heard Yo-Yo Ma play it,... and I actually love it now. its still sad but he makes it so much more meaningful and epic

[@JonRobert]

His vibrato is just so perfect.

[@sambrinkley9120]

I was lucky enough to meet Yo-Yo at a reception for the North Carolina Symphony at a concert where he played the Schumann concerto. AMAZING!!!!!!!

[@naomiayme4985]

lucky you! :)

[@17spanishbabe]

I love how his fingers so easily scale the fingerboard, and yet they're still so strategic in hitting each note perfectly. :) Why do you care what his facial expressions are showing? What matters is the fact that he can carry across the beauty of the music and the pain behind it without need them! So what if he smiles!? The music he's playing paints an entirely different picture.

[@avalonwings16]

I've played this on my cello, and each time I hear or play this song it sends chills down my spine. And, of course, with Yo Yo Ma playing it, it sounds twice as nice. Great video!

[@jppjpp3267]

Amazing. It brought tears to my eyes :,) Thank you for playing this so beautifully Yo Yo Ma.

[@Phoenixlechannel]

...and thank you Gabriel Fauré for composing this marvelous music. :)

[@YTM021807]

The initial notes are of tremendous impact because of its pure beauty.

[@jaejeong8911]

Add my thanks to the orchestra...

[@YTM021807]

This concert by Yo-Y0 Ma was dedicated to the memory of Sergiu Comissiona (16 June 1928 -- March 5, 2005) who died suddenly a few days before. Maestro Comissiona was to conduct it. NOTE: Please ignore the low volume radio interference at the end...

[@PieJesuG]

When playing this piece, there are so many moments where you just want to push out the intensity in emotion out through the cello... The beauty is in holding back... Making that emotion grow inside, grow within what is not released... then releasing it all into the air waves. One of my favourite pieces to play and listen to.

[@elenikoustoulidi7736]

I had the luck to see him live in Athens, right outside the Parthenon. What a legend... thank you so much for what you do, Yo-Yo Ma.

[@YTM021807]

Dr. Bernard, french ambassador to P.R, says that the first version of the Élégie was composed when Gabriel Fauré was very young. This was a favorite of Pablo Casals and he played it in front of Maestro Fauré !! There is an "elegant nostalgia" in this work

[@connorwhitaker8578]

I have played the cello for nine years and I will never understand how he vibrates with his elbow so low

[@brainwasher9876]

the Force.

[@ruperthoare6491]

That is the proper technique

[@lachlannprice]

you vibrate with your wrist so it does not really matter where your elbow is

[@marcoma6028]

Lachlan Price no, for upper string instruments they use wrist vibrato but cello vibrato is motion on the forearm

[@emilyarciniega6928]

He do a good wiggle

[@rfresa]

This piece captures so many flavors of grief.

[@Budodo2]

LOL! He like stood up in the middle of the piece! I love him!

[@iscan000]

@aamish911 no thats wrong, orchestral performances are not meant to be a visual performance, if they were the musicians would not be wearing such plain colors. im a musician too and we play wearing solid black always so we dont distract from the music.. im just clarifying, i dont care if you didnt like him smiling

[@sylviafillips1935]

The master of cello has arisen!

[@cellocrazy1994]

my favorite part is at 4:50! I love playing this part. the music is so nostalgic, and then it gets happier, and it's like there is a beacon of hope in the darkness of the song. It is played by one of the greatest masters of such a beautiful instrument!

[@Daltnation]

yesss

[@YeaItsMario]

doing this for a competition in a couple weeks time 6:17 - 6:38 makes me want to throw myself off a building. I can do it but the accompaniment throws me off. and then i watch this and become even more depressed because he makes it look so easy

[@bagoramen616]

Yeah I know this is 9 years later, but how'd th competition go?

[@bongaz3547]

i dont even like yoyo that much but this is the best interpretation that i found on youtube. grande maestro!

[@Nicolaii49]

c'est je pense la meilleur interprétation que j'ai jamais vue de l'élégie de fauré. bravo mr yo yo ma!

[@gonguin57]

magnífica obra, magnífico cellista, buena orquesta, que mas se puede pedir.

[@brandoncornelius16]

2:18 gave me chills when he nods to the crowd

[@thiemenroest7846]

The master himself: this is no noise but music as music should be!

[@Zofzoeif]

Mon Dieu, comme c'est beau !

[@YTM021807]

Thanks! Initially I was not going to upload it (because of the noise at the end etc...) but because this is such a moving performance here is it!

[@pinotati1]

Gracias por publicar esta grabación!!! Uno de los conciertos que siempre recordaré. Una experiencia muy emocionante.

[@pernetvalentine455]

Beautiful and précious Thank You

[@YTM021807]

Congratulations! You pin point exactly the most intense, beautiful segment, 6:40 is certainly sublime and hair rising!!

[@cme64]

As if the music comes from the depths of his heart! amazing indulgence

[@Btsarmy-ng1pl]

I've always loved this tune!!

[@ryim2009]

I played this in high school for a contest; I got a perfect score and the judge even said that my pianissimo was the most beautiful she's ever heard (even though I'm nowhere near as good as a god like Yo-Yo MA). I just remembered when playing this, I just didn't want it to end - milking every moment and enjoying every note - I hope my audiences felt the same way.

[@dlookwhy]

It sounds worse when I play it for some reason. :)

[@nahor88]

1. His Cello is worth millions of dollars 2. He's Yo-yo Ma. :p

[@steph-dl7ye]

Lol big mood

[@kwoky4058]

dlookwhy I feel you dog

[@stevenhu5601]

I wonder why.

[@yunawoo8795]

nahor88 his cello is actually 200k fyi

[@Kiarinadia]

Quelle intensité et profondeur dans son jeu...extraordinaire!

[@pablorosales1149]

Simply human, great Mr MA!

[@calicello1mormongirl]

I have to play this piece soon. I am thoroughly intimidated. Yo-Yo Ma, you never cease to astound me.

[@jrino1979]

I heard Yo Yo Ma do this on 9/11 in Colorado Springs where I was going to college. Only time I ever cried during a concert. Oí que Yo Yo Ma hace esto en 9/11 en Colorado Springs, CO donde iba al colegio. Sólo tiempo que lloré jamás durante un concierto.

[@ciclismo360]

I remember perfectly this concert during the Festival Casals. It was broadcasted live and I recorded it completly, not only the Faure's Elegie performance but also the Dvorak's Cello Concerto in B minor performance. In my opinion, that was one of the best performances by Yo-Yo Ma. Unfortunately I haven't been able to upload it.Thanks for upload this video.

[@bpted6861]

I like the soccer commentary or whatever it is in the background! Especially at the end, it's kind of funny. Great performance! Go Yo-Yo!

[@walterampuero]

Qué bonito, pronto tengo que estudiar esa pieza, es muy hermosa.

[@naomiayme4985]

OMG, that's so beautiful! I really love the interpretation and now I feel a little bad to play, I can't do it as well... of course, Yo-Yo Ma is an incredible cellist and my favorite since I started playing the cello

[@YTM021807]

The magic of Casals is ever present in the Casals Festival. It is like a holy place or "Mecca". Yo Yo Ma, Piatigorsky, Du Pre, Menuhin, Leonard Rose, Jean Pierre Rampal, for example, have made a "pilgrimage" at least once in their lifetime.

[@lindalinmusic]

Yo Yo, my hero.

[@YTM021807]

Maestro Yo-Yo Ma will come again to the Casals Festival in 2015 (March) !!

[@TheDancer424]

and THAT is why i love to play the cello

[@gregorsillo]

mi músico preferido, interpretando una de mis obras preferidas, no puedo evitar compartirlo ... recomiendo escucharlo con una luz tenue y un café humeante .

[@YTM021807]

Correct !! He enjoys so much, is happy, is a super virtuoso. This means that he is free to "look around", "be relaxed" etc.

[@thenoobcrafter6781]

AMAZING!!

[@zuzanazuzanita]

que belleza de obra y YOYOMA es un maestro

[@mushuplus]

Excellent playing! Yo-Yo-Ma throws his cello all over the place!

[@NeonMyloXyloto]

Yo yo ma plays with the most dynamic and expressive vibrato in the beginning than does anyone else I have heard play this piece. I'm not entirely sure what you mean that its played in such a uniform mood in the middle section. He plays with such emotion, variety in vibrato and sound, and amazing accents throughout the whole piece. His playing is in no way unbalanced, but thats just what I think

[@alexjson9571]

Faure & Yo-Yo ma.... It's amazing...

[@bedenerexhepaj293]

So Beautiful!!! Thank you!!!

[@themusician2997]

very nice performance

[@luniflor]

this work with notes so grim thrills me is beautiful

[@RobinWJansen]

very very nice!

[@Kenri_Basar]

Lovely...

[@YTM021807]

Yes but it was an electronic interference at the TV station due to analog transmission problems. Simply ignore and enjoy the high quality cello and orquestra sounds...

[@OzzyKingofKings]

... You're kidding, right? Have you *heard* the Piatigorsky?! I think it's the most heartrending reading of the Elegie on KZbin. Truly a great performance.

[@YTM021807]

@martinshung1 True! I was fortunate to capture the broadcast live!

[@MrJianghanchao]

Superb performance !!!!

[@musikgirl1]

A beautiful interpretation.Especially played on the Davidov cello.Bravo!

[@YTM021807]

It is Yiye Avila preaching. Fortunately it is of low volume and is only noticeable at the end. He says: "Poderoso Jesus!" (Powerful Jesus!). Mr. Yiye Avila is very old and suffered a stroke in Oct 2008. He is seen again on TV live but sitting down and with decreased mental capacity (forgetfulness etc.).

[@TteokbokkiKing]

Yes, I agree with you on both points. The grief is profound. I hope to achieve it with my own performance someday.

[@magr7012]

JUST AMAZING!

[@CamiloGaetePuga]

AMAZING!!!!!

[@SamsKalopsia]

6:15 has so much emotion to me

[@cyberk25]

wow elegie as a concerto, very beautiful

[@natethecellist]

At 6:16 he stands up!! I love it

[@marinavoronova4579]

Great musician.

[@misaelsimoes]

Beautiful ❤

[@francescakim8763]

I’m playing this piece right now and I’m like “😨 how do they play it so fast I’m not even close”

[@eladiomilad8500]

The trick is to play the slow part fast and the fast part normally, so everyone will think you are playing it fast.

[@francescakim8763]

Eladio Hosseinpour I tried it and it worked thank you!

[@LeonGaufre]

If you can play it slowly you can play it quickly 😉

[@francescakim8763]

Leonardo Cialdella YESSSSS TWO SET VIOLIN?!

[@LeonGaufre]

Francesca Kim I love you 😍 Hahaha

[@phi223]

Yo-Yo Ma is the bomb.

[@YTM021807]

Yes! Be happy, agreeable, open minded, courteous, etc....

[@IvanLuza]

wow this is one of the best performances of this i've heard! if you haven't, listen to anne gastinels performance of this. also another favorite performance.

[@ephraim4725]

Playing this for solo and ensemble as a sophomore and I’m tryna play this good bruh someone tell me how

[@MinecraftDiamonds]

Man it's so beautiful

[@heejun00]

thanks for sharing!

[@cobwebsandcorsets]

apparently cats like this sort of music, they also like bach, air on the g string

[@yunawoo8795]

yea

[@Longbasian]

wow indeed!

[@BaIake_]

My teacher told me about how a famous cellist played this song after the events of 9/11 and once the piece was over, there was about 10 minutes of silence. This piece is beautiful and the impact it can have on somebody cannot be overstated

[@YTM021807]

Keep informing us on your progress! Best wishes!!

[@0390403903]

WITH LOVE!!!!!!!!!!

[@YTM021807]

About 2 weeks after Sergiu Commissiona died. Commissiona was supposed to have been the Conductor. The date is around March 20, 2005

[@user-jf7ex9dr2j]

なんて美しくて哀しい曲なんだろう… 今度チェロと一緒にピアノで演奏するから、とても参考になった。

[@Batman001]

Hypnotizing

[@historybook666]

awesome

[@cellogeek95]

sorry for answering so fast, but if you look at the youtube video:"This old cello" Yo-yo Ma shows his stradivarius and it does not look like his cello on elegie, it has a lot thinner body. So I´m pretty sure it´s his "Petunia" Montagnana cello :)

[@Batmanazedo]

❤💗❤💗❤

[@JamesMcGonigle]

I agree with you on that. The interesting thing is that Faure originally wrote the piece for cello and orchestra.

[@lindascanlan6317]

Fierce

[@mushuplus]

What did this song do? It changed my life.

[@YTM021807]

Not All are great renditions! There are various degrees of greatness in the great renditions.

[@correcttakes]

it's incredible enough to play that well, but he still has to make it look thoroughly effortless...

[@raymondfalcon-lugo4511]

Original master was not VHS. Not "over recorded".

[@MrFpam]

Very sad that you should be bothered or distracted by the semblance of a brief smile in what is obviously a very involved and heartfelt performance by Yo Yo Ma. There are musicians who make distracting facial expressions or other annoying gestures, but this is certainly not one of them and especially not in this instance. Despite all this, music is indeed an aural and not a visual art!

[@mjlee7855]

The beginning was so intense, the most "strong" sound I've heard in comparison to other artists also playing elegie. And I loved the way he interpreted the soft and flowing middle section and the build up after that. But the climax wasn't as intense as I thought it would be. I guess that's the way he wanted to portray it.