TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Cellist Yo-Yo Ma (馬友友) provided musical solace during Typhoon Ragasa Monday (Sept. 22), performing Bach cello suites at Taipei's National Concert Hall (台北國家音樂廳) as fierce winds battered the island. The renowned musician's first Taiwan appearance in three years drew capacity crowds seeking refuge from the storm through classical music. Ma delivered "Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major," "Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor," and "Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major" as audiences found comfort amid the typhoon's chaos.
Ma's return to Taiwan after three years featured an opening performance of Chinese composer Zhao Jiping's (趙季平) "Summer in the High Grassland" (草原之夏), where his cello mimicked traditional horse-head fiddle sounds. The program included works by Turkish composer Ahmet Adnan Saygun and American composer George Crumb, creating what audiences described as a diverse musical journey. Music enthusiasts filled the venue to experience Ma's distinctive interpretations across multiple cultural traditions.
The cellist founded Silkroad, formerly the Silk Road Project, in 1998 to promote cultural exchange through music collaboration. Ma recently launched the Our Common Nature project, performing in forests and glaciers to encourage environmental awareness and reconnection with nature. He describes Bach's compositions as "living material" that can dialogue with different eras and cultures, driving his continued performances of Bach's unaccompanied cello suites.
Ma expressed hopes his performances will inspire Bach appreciation and help listeners find personal meaning at different life stages, calling Bach a lifelong teacher. The musician continues bridging cultural divides while promoting environmental consciousness through his various musical projects. Audiences worldwide await his next performance as Ma maintains his commitment to connecting music with broader social and environmental themes. ◼
