along with kayhan kalhor and the orchestra of the americas, conducted by carlos miguel prieto. absolutely stunning and invigorating. the orchestra of the americas is an international program to bring together young musicians that an orchestra so often overlooks and i was blown away. they played the full program of about two hours and then played three encores including an improvised finale in which individual players came up to the conductor’s platform and soloed. they played (again, after 2 hours of intense work) Tico Tico at such a wild pace that the first chair percussionist was also conducting with her left hand to rein her musicians in. by the end members of the orchestra were dancing, the conductor was just standing in amongst the violas and watching, it was so wonderful. Ma and Kalhor were only on stage for a concerto in the first half and otherwise the focus was on the young musicians which was absolutely the right call, as fun as it would have been to see them also improvising for the finales. i was so moved by the energy and passion and commitment of Prieto too - conducting with his whole body, very precise with his cueing, speaking with such care about his musicians. Towards the end he said “I’m sorry this concert is so long - we just haven’t played together for six years.” Amazing night.
i don’t really know what to say about ma’s playing. i don’t think i’ve ever seen someone play an instrument like that before - it was like the sound was butter or a loop of ribbon or the edge of a knife - indescribable tone and effortless, impossibly relaxed playing; his left hand on the fingerboard almost like an afterthought, his right hand holding a bow that might as well have been a mile long and not there at all. a privilege to get to see him play