Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott’s New Album, “Merci”

Released on Sony Classical, the album features works by Fauré, Saint-Saëns, Viardot, and the Boulanger sisters

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and his long-time duet partner, British pianist Kathryn Stott, have released their latest album titled “Merci” — which references a “deeply personal expression of gratitude and a celebration of the relationships that keep music alive.”

The works by Fauré form the centerpiece of the album, which follows the history of his inspiration and influence, including those of his teacher Saint-Saëns, his friend and supporter Pauline Viardot, as well as works by his student Nadia Boulanger and her sister, Lili. 

Notably, both Ma and Stott have connections to Fauré through their respective teachers Luise Vosgerchian and Nadia Boulanger. 

Other artists who can trace a direct connection to Fauré through mentors include Quincy Jones, Aaron Copland, Philip Glass, and Leonard Bernstein.

Fauré’s works on the album include his Berceuse, Op. 16; Andante, Op. 75; Papillon, Op. 77; Sicilienne, Op. 78; Morceau de lecture; Romance, Op. 69; Élégie, Op. 24; Sérénade, Op. 98; and Romance, Op. 28. 

These works are interspersed with Lili Boulanger’s Nocturne and D’un soir triste; Saint-Saëns’ Mon coeur s’ouvre à ta voix from Samson et Dalila and Romance, Op. 36; Viardot’s Hai Luli! and Aimez-moi from Six Chansons du XVI Siècle; plus Cantique and La mer by Nadia Boulanger.

To purchase and listen to the album, click here.

Ultimately, “Merci” celebrates friendship and the connections among performers, students, and mentors across the generations. The release also comes before Stott’s retirement from public performances as of December 2024.

“The inspiration for this project stretches back to my very early years as a child at the Menuhin School, where teachers often visited from Paris,” Stott noted in the press release. “One of those was Nadia Boulanger. Nadia had been a student of Gabriel Fauré, and when I was 10, I had the great privilege to play Fauré’s fourth Barcarolle for her; from that moment, Fauré’s music never left my side. At the age of 10, I had found my musical soulmate.”

“We musicians stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, and that we can only hope that ours will sustain those who come after,” Ma added.

Ma and Stott’s recording partnership began in 1985 and includes GRAMMY Award-winning albums. In recent years, they have collaborated on the 2020 release “Songs of Comfort and Hope,” inspired by the recorded-at-home musical offerings that Ma shared during the COVID-19 lockdowns. 

Surrounding the release of “Merci,” the acclaimed duo will embark on a recital tour across Europe this fall including stops in Reykjavík, London, Stockholm, Berlin, Munich, and Paris.