Yo-Yo Ma Records Final Album With Collaborator of Forty Years

Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott (Video still)

After 4 decades of collaborations, the cellist Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Kathryn Stott recorded their final album together. Stott plans to retire from playing at the end of this year.

Driving the news: Last month, the legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma released his final album with his collaborative partner of 40 years, the pianist Kathryn Stott. Entitled Merci, Stott and Ma describe the album as an expression of gratitude that centres on works by Gabriel Fauré, who died 100 years ago. It also includes works by members of Fauré’s circle including his friend Pauline Viardot, his students Nadia and Lili Boulanger, and his teacher Camille Saint-Saëns. The album is recorded by Sony Classical.

Digging deeper: In a press release, both artists described the deeply personal nature of their programming choices on Merci. Both Ma and Stott hold connections to Gabriel Fauré. Stott played Fauré’s fourth Barcarolle for Nadia Boulanger when she was 10 years old and Ma studied with Boulanger’s student Luise Vosgerchian while he was at Harvard. Ma credits Vosgerchian with turning him “from a neurotic musician into an even more neurotic musician.”

Over the years, Ma and Stott have developed a close personal and musical relationship. Hearing them play the music of their musical predecessors on their last album together should be a treat indeed.

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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.