Yo-Yo Ma - Simply Baroque (2026 Reissue) Yo-Yo Ma

Performing on the Baroque cello — outfitted with gut strings and played without an endpin, requiring the instrument to be held between the legs — Yo-Yo Ma delivers the warm, listener-friendly classical music for which he has become renowned. Supported by conductor Ton Koopman and the period-instrument Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ma presents a distinctive interpretation of several of Johann Sebastian Bach’s best-known Baroque works alongside lesser-known compositions by Italian composer Luigi Boccherini.

The unique sound of the Baroque cello transforms the atmosphere of these familiar pieces into something warmer and more intimate. The gut strings produce a softer, less dry tone than modern wound strings, while the absence of an endpin means the sound resonates entirely through the body of the instrument rather than travelling through the floor.

Ma’s sensitive and highly skilled performances elevate Simply Baroque far beyond a historical curiosity, resulting instead in a deeply beautiful and immersive listening experience.

Simply Baroque is available as a limited edition of 500 copies on aquamarine coloured vinyl and includes a 4-page booklet with liner notes.