One of the world’s most celebrated cellists, Yo-Yo Ma, is set to return to Florence for a highly anticipated performance on June 14 at the Sala Mehta of the Teatro del Maggio. The event is a co-production between Amici della Musica di Firenze and the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, and it is part of the 87th edition of the Maggio Musicale Festival.
This appearance marks Yo-Yo Ma’s first solo recital in Florence in over 20 years. He last performed alone in the city in 2004 at the Teatro della Pergola and returned in 2008 in a duo concert with pianist Kathryn Stott. The upcoming concert promises to be a significant moment for classical music lovers in Tuscany.
The program includes a selection of three of Johann Sebastian Bach’s iconic Suites for solo cello:
- Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007
- Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009
- Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012
These pieces are central to the cello repertoire, and Yo-Yo Ma’s interpretations—recorded in three distinct versions over his career (1983, 1997, and 2018)—have become benchmarks for musicians and audiences alike.
In addition to Bach, the evening will feature a diverse set of modern works for solo cello:
- Summer in the High Grassland by Zhao Jiping, a Chinese composer known for his evocative musical landscapes
- The Partita Op. 31 by Ahmed Adnan Saygun, composed in 1954 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of German philosopher Friedrich Schiller’s death
- The Sonata for Solo Cello by American composer George Crumb, written in 1955 and influenced by Hindemith and Bartók
This concert offers a rare opportunity to hear one of classical music’s most revered performers in an intimate solo setting, within the historic context of Florence’s premier music festival.
Tickets and further details are available on the official websites of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and Amici della Musica di Firenze.