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This is fresh air. I'm Terry Gross. My guest is Yo-Yo Ma,

along with this cello, which he'll be playing.

He's the most famous contemporary cellist and perhaps the most revered in the US.

His best known recordings are of the Bach solo cello suites, which is recorded three times in 1983,

1997, and 2018.

He's performed with orchestras around the world, but lots of people who pay no attention to classical music, no

Yoyo Ma because he's performed in so many different settings.

He's played American folk and bluegrass music,

and he's played music from around the world

with the Silk Road Ensemble, which he founded.

He appeared on Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, Sesame Street,

and The Simpsons. On the first anniversary of 9-11 at the ceremony held at

ground zero he performed one of the Bach's cello sweets. More recently he

played at the memorial for the seven Aid Workers from World Central Kitchen, who were feeding people trapped in Gaza.

He started playing cello at age four, and by the time he was seven, he performed at an event attended by President Kennedy

and former President Dwight Eisenhower where Yoyo Ma was introduced by

Leonard Bernstein. In 2011 he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Obama.

That's one of the many honors he's received including 19 Grammys.

His latest album is called Beethoven for three.

I spoke with Yoyo Ma earlier this month at an event held at W.H.Y.

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