The celebrated cellist Yo-Yo Ma will make his long overdue Australian debut in 2019, performing Bach’s six solo Cello Suites in Sydney and Melbourne. To be played without interval, these concerts form part of Ma’s ongoing The Bach Project, which will see him perform all six suites across six continents over the next two years. It’s a fitting nod to the artist’s six-decade association with these iconic cello works, first made popular by Pablo Casals in the 1930s. And as a continuation of Ma’s commitment to social activism, each performance is to be accompanied by a special event that he has dubbed a “day of action”, addressing serious contemporary issues close to his heart.

Yo-Yo Ma. Photo © Jason Bell 

“We live in a world of boundless possibility, but we also face daunting challenges, even to our very survival,” said Ma. “I believe that during times of stress, confusion, and insecurity, we should share sources that offer comfort, purpose, and meaning. Bach does that. When his music touches us, it reconnects us to our common humanity.”

In September of 2017 Ma sold out the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, performing the suites to an...