The 40-year friendship between two musical titans, John Williams & Yo-Yo Ma, reaches a new peak with 'A Gathering of Friends.' The incredible warmth & brilliance of composer/conductor John Williams is felt throughout this album of both his concert music (a newly revised 'Cello Concerto') and his legendary film music, including a powerful new arrangement of the 'Theme' from 'Schindler's List,' brought to life by Yo-Yo Ma and the world-renowned New York Philharmonic.

REVIEWS:

Most of the program on this 2022 release consists of film themes, all undeniably fitting Ma's style well. The biggest news here is a revision of the Williams Cello Concerto. Although clearly the product of a cinema composer, this concerto holds off on the big movie themes until the finale, which Williams' revision sharpens for greater emotional impact. The work has an interesting balance of popular elements and the possibilities of the classical concerto, a balance that Ma and Williams, conducting the Philharmonic, strike effectively. There is no question that fans of either Ma or Williams, or both, will eat this album up; what is novel is that others can hear it profitably as well.

-- AllMusic.com (James Manheim)

It’s a treat to hear Ma lend his still-flawless technique to this selection. His light and transparent tone floats serenely above the Concerto’s dense harmonic landscape, and the arrangements of film themes are captivating, too.

--BBC Music Magazine