Yo-Yo Ma on the Silk Road Ensemble; music critic Peter Dobrin

Guests: Yo-Yo Ma, Peter Dobrin

Cellist YO-YO MA is probably the most recognized classical musician in the world.  He’s recorded 90 albums, 18 of which are Grammy winners.   Ma has performed for a number of Presidents, including for John F. Kennedy when Ma was just 7 years old, and at President Obama’s inauguration in 2008.  In addition to his classical performances, Yo-Yo Ma has always found inspiration in diverse musical collaborations.  In 1998 he founded the Silk Road Project, a cross-cultural music collective of artists from around the world.  Now there’s a new film tracing this musical venture, The Music of Strangers, directed by Morgan Neville.  Marty talks with Ma about the Silk Road Ensemble and making music with an eclectic band of musicians and instruments. Then, Philadelphia Orchestra’s music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin just accepted a job with the Metropolitan Opera although he’ll remain with the Philadelphia Orchestra.  Music critic for the Philadelphia Inquirer PETER DOBRIN fills us in on the news.