Cello Concerti No. 1 (C Major / C-dur / Ut Majeur) / No. 2 (D Major / D-dur / Ré Majeur)

Released in 1982 by CBS Masterworks, this recording features cellist Yo-Yo Ma performing Joseph Haydn's Cello Concertos No. 1 and No. 2 with the English Chamber Orchestra. These works, particularly the C Major concerto, were long considered lost until the discovery of the original manuscript in Prague in 1961. By the time of this recording, the pieces had regained their status as cornerstones of the cello repertoire, and Ma's interpretation was noted for bringing a fresh, virtuosic clarity to these established Classical-era masterworks.

The production reflects the high standards of the CBS Masterworks label during the early 1980s, an era when Ma was rapidly solidifying his reputation as a premier recording artist. The collaboration with the English Chamber Orchestra underscores a commitment to historically informed performance aesthetics prevalent at the time, aiming for a balance between technical precision and the lyrical warmth associated with Ma's style. Upon its release, the recording was well-received by critics who praised the agility of the performance and the crisp, clean acoustic signature typical of the label's studio work during that decade.