Yo-Yo Ma Joins Cast of Animated Television Show

The celebrated cellist joined the cast of the PBS show “Pinkalicious & Peterrific.”

What’s Up: On October 6th, Yo-Yo Ma was featured on the PBS show Pinkalicious & Peterrific . An animated version of Ma appeared to teach the two protagonists, Pinkalicious and her brother, Peter, about the power of music. Ma played Camille Saint-Saens’ The Swan and the Prelude from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 to teach children about the power of music. Ma’s cameo follows his iconic appearances on Sesame Street in the 1980s and Arthur in 1999.

Going Deeper: As well as being the world’s most famous cellist, Yo-Yo Ma has prioritized civic outreach and engagement throughout his career. He has collaborated with different cultural groups around the world, including the Kalahari Bushmen, and through his group the Silkroad Ensemble, which seeks to expand the classical cello repertoire to feature lesser-known cultures and composers. He performs at events celebrating global unity, such as the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations at the U.S.-Mexican border and at the Nikolaikirche in Leipzig, where peaceful rebellions that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall began.

When asked why Yo-Yo Ma chose to perform The Swan on Pinkalicious & Peterrific, he described how the piece was so tranquil and beautiful it brought tears to one’s eyes. Watch a clip from his appearance on the show here:

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Sara Schabas

Sara Schabas is a Dora-nominated soprano, writer and yoga teacher. She has performed and created leading roles with companies including Vancouver Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, the Dayton Opera, and Aspen Opera, and is a former member of Barbara Hannigan’s Equilibrium Young Artists. Currently based in Montreal, she is a doctoral student at McGill University — where she recently received the Wirth Vocal Prize — and editor of Art Song Canada magazine.