Yo-Yo Ma serenades the world’s healthcare workers in beautiful Bach video

17 March 2020, 20:42

Yo-Yo Ma Bach Sarabande
Yo-Yo Ma Bach Sarabande. Picture: Facebook / Yo-Yo Ma

By Kyle Macdonald

A musical thank-you to some of the people working hardest in the world’s time of need.

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic causes disruption around the world, one of the groups most impacted are the world’s doctors, nurses, paramedics and carers around the world.

Click here for the latest coronavirus advice from the NHS >

Their work, care, skills and commitment were foremost in the mind of great American cellist Yo-Yo Ma’s mind yesterday. He uploaded a specially recorded video of the ‘Sarabande’ from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 3, and dedicated the performance to all healthcare workers around the world.

“Your ability to balance human connection and scientific truth in service of us all gives me hope,” the cellist wrote.

We couldn’t agree with him more.

Yo-Yo Ma is releasing a series of videos on social media, saying he hopes to give musical peace amid the disruption and uncertainty surrounding coronavirus.

Read more: Quarantined Italian tenor sings ‘Nessun dorma’ from his Florence balcony >

On Friday he posted a solo cello arrangement of the famous ‘Largo’ from Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor ('From the New World').

To accompany the video, the cellist added: “In these days of anxiety, I wanted to find a way to continue to share some of the music that gives me comfort”.