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.

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.

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!

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

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!

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.

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.