Yo-Yo Ma: 30 Years Outside The Box

This collection of 30 years of Yo-yo Ma’s performances and collaborations on 90 well- indexed and easily managed cds is the best holiday gift I ever could buy for myself. It’s too expensive for anyone else to rationalize taking a chance on it as a gift to another person. But wow, does it deliver value! The accompanying high quality book is full of photos, but most helpful are the clear and well-organized liner notes for each cd. The cello is not a rock star instrument, but Yo-yo Ma’s playing is lovely, personal and often sublime. The occasional crossover into different genres with unexpected stars from different fields is fun. I am tempted to start at the beginning and read and listen my way straight through the collection as part of a wonderful musical education.

I have been a fan of Yo Yo Ma ever since I first saw his first CD. This boxed set is worthy of his talent and for the contributions he has made to the appreciation of classical music. What a music ambassador he is! I have seen him perform live twice. I cried for joy both times. He brings his love of music and of people to all his performances. He embraces the audience and most of all to his fellow musicians who are playing with him. The book that comes with the set is worth the price too. Filled with gorgeous photos and great descriptions of all the cd's, it is a wonderful source of information. I would have liked a few more biographical information about his youth and how he matured into the wonderful cellist that he is. Only a few childhood pictures of him, none of his parents and only one with his older sister. This is only a small critique. Bravo 30 years outside the box!

This is an amazing value for anyone with an interest in the repertoire for the cello. This collection consists of 90 CDs. Each CD is in a paper sleave with the original cover design and notes in very fine print. I've listened to about thirty CDs thus far. Most of the pieces I have listened to are not familiar to me. Nevertheless, I have enjoyed most of the performances and intend to return to many of these discs in the future. The box that this collection comes in is very substantial and attractive. Included with the CDs is a very fine book with many photos and information related to all the performances. For $112 this is truly a bargain. It's worth at least three or four times the price.

A lot of love and care has gone into producing this box set. It is by far the best presented box set I have ever bought, truly a collector's item. You get a gorgeously published book, too. My only comment would be that I would appreciate an additional CD-ROM. Yo-Yo Ma is such a versatile artist/performer spanning different genera of classical music. He is quite remarkable in translating and capturing the cello voice into unique and delightful form. This set originally retailed for about $800, for under $300 it is an absolute bargain, a must have.

Was barely able to contain my excitement as the box containing my new treasure was opened. MAGNIFICENT! Just a wonder of exquisite taste and splendor. The second you look at THE BOX ...YOU KNOW! The integrity of the essence of each note that is played is so beyond beauty ... it transcends verbiage ... it is his soul lovingly articulating the music ... it is of him and in him. Have seen him on PBS and with sweat poring from his body is in a world that while truly his, he transmits his created sounds with the eloquence of the great, great humble, abundantly blessed true artist that he is. This music by its very existence within my home ... will not only be the sounds that my ears are hearing now ... but undoubtably to the end of my earthly years. We must thank God for the pure beauty of this man and his power to bring life into the world as no one else could even imagine. Harold Edward Wills

Yo Yo Ma Plays the cello beautifully. If you like beauty, you will like this collection. The surprise for me is the wide variety of situations in which his music appears. I liked the Bach solos the best for understanding his facility. The hardcover book enclosed with the collection is a kind of anthology of his work, with plaudits by the wide variety of people he's worked with. It's also very enjoyable.

I got this treasure for Christmas and love it. Yo Yo Ma is one of the world's musical wonders and there is quite a variety of music included here. It is taking me a long time to listen to all of it as this is a very large collection, but so far nothing has disappointed. I was very happy that the price has come down from the original first offerings as my wife never would have spent that much!

90 cd di grande qualità artistica e tecnica, dalla giovinezza alla maturità del più grande violoncellista vivente - sony fa un eccezionale ed irripetibile regalo agli appassionati dell'esecutore e del suo strumento - 7500 cofanetti in totale, per tutto il mondo - averne uno é un raro privilegio ... per di più molto economico

They don't make sets like this any more.YoYoMa was a child prodigy and has a huge discography with all the Cello classical repertoire being covered as well as musical crossover albumins . The book that accompanies it is wonderful

Je me bornerais à évoquer l'objet que représente ce magnifique coffret. Il m'apparait en effet inutile de revenir sur la discographie de Yo Yo Ma bien connue des mélomanes, même s'il est amusant de constater en parcourant le coffret comment un artiste de cet envergure construit son répertoire. Pour résumer : les premières années les grands concertos, puis les sonates... puis (le répertoire du cello n'étant pas extensible) du cross over ! Les prises de son manquent parfois de netteté, mais qu'importe, vous possédez avec ce coffret quasiment tout ce qu'a enregistré un violoncelliste au talent incontestable. Revenons sur le contenu: ce coffret (volumineux) est luxueux et très agréable à manipuler. Mais, un bémol toutefois. Pourquoi chaque CD est-il inséré dans une basique pochette cartonné (avec une qualité d'impression parfois insatisfaisante) et non dans un mini coffret cartonné avec une tranche mentionnant le contenu afin de pouvoir facilement identifier les oeuvres ? SONY a réalisé postérieurement de magnifique coffrets de Glenn GOULD plays BACH (42 CD) et Murray PERAHIA (73 CD) avec des étuis CD superbes et aisés à maniupuler (avec une tranche !). Espérons qu'il en soit de même pour tous leur nouveaux coffrets. D'ailleurs, Mesdames, Messieurs de SONY, à quand un coffret de l'intégrale Isaac STERN ??

This isn't cheap. Yet everything about it is outstanding. The box, the book, the CDs, the presentation. There's the music, which pretty much stands on its own as an amazing collections of Yo Yo Ma's artistry. At 90 CDs, this collection covers a huge amount of music, many eras and genres (including the modern), and shows what this master is capable of throughout his career. The rest of the box is simply adornment to the music, but wonderful adornment. The book has great photos, recollections, stories, and history. The box will take a rightful place of pride in any collection, and I can't think of any way to improve this product at all. Probably the best-presented collection available, this is a winner through and through and worth every penny.

商品を開いて初めて知りましたが、世界中で7,500部の限定生産のようです。 通し番号が書かれた紙が同封されています。 商品画像に写っている3つの箱は、右奥からフタを閉じた状態、フタを開けて写真集が見えた状態、写真集をのけてCDが見えた状態です。（3つのボックスに分かれているわけではありません。） ボックスのデザインは絵ではなく、マのチェロの写真です。 写真集はおまけ程度の物を想像していましたが、これがとても立派なもので、このボックスのもう一つの主役というかんじです。 ボックス全体のサイズもCD90枚に合わせたのではなく、写真集に合わせたようです。 CDの入っている部屋は、取り出しやすいようにスペースに余裕があります。 そして、しおりとして使用するための仕切り板が何枚かついてます。 写真集の内容はマの幼少期〜若手でバリバリ弾きまくってた頃〜最近に至るまでのものでとてもきれいな写真で、若き天才と言われていた頃のマがカラヤンや小澤などと一緒に写っている貴重な画像も多いです。 巻末には、解説付きのディスコグラフィー。 これ単品で出版したとしたら、かなりの価格になったでしょうね。 紙ジャケットは、DG111と同様に表面だけオリジナル画像で裏面は通し番号と曲目などのデータが記載されています。 内袋はなく、紙ジャケにCDを直接収納する形ですが、全く気になりません。 私のお気に入りの「クライスラー・愛の喜び」や「バッハ無伴奏」の旧盤はかなり初期の作品だったことがわかりました。その後、80枚もCD出してたんですね。。。これから、時間をかけて少しずつ聴いていきたいと思います。