Jakarta. World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma will arrive in Indonesia to bring his classical solo performance in “Yo-Yo Ma's Bach Project” at the Jakarta International Theatre at JIExpo Kemayoran on Dec. 6, in his first ever Indonesian concert. 

The public performance will be followed by a collaborative event dubbed “Day of Action” in the following day, in which Ma will partner with local artists, cultural leaders and community organizations to encourage dialog and artistic expression.

Indonesia is the 25th country to host the Bach Project, a series of global concert tours that will ultimately reach 36 locations across six continents over a period of more than two years. 

Ma was born in 1955 to Chinese parents living in Paris. He began to study the cello with his father at age four and three years later moved with his family to New York City, where he continued his cello studies with Leonard Rose at the Juilliard School. 

After his conservatory training, he sought out a liberal arts education, graduating from Harvard University with a degree in anthropology in 1976.

Yo-Yo Ma's Bach Project in Indonesia is presented by Shoemaker Studios, in collaboration with GoImpact and the Jakarta International Theatre, the city’s newest and most advanced performance arts center.

"Shoemaker Studios is the incubator for local and international musicians in their journey to explore music and creativity. We believe there is profound value in Yo-Yo Ma’s Bach Project that is in line with our passion, combining various elements of music, creativity, and harmony,” Shoemaker Studios co-founder Prajna Murdaya said in a statement.

“We believe that Yo-Yo Ma's spirit will inspire Indonesian musicians to practice music as a way to celebrate cultural, social, linguistic, and religious differences, and to establish an amicable relationship among all people. In collaboration with GoImpact, and with the support of the Jakarta International Theatre, we are very proud to bring you Yo-Yo Ma’s Bach Project. This collaboration is indeed our effort to establish and empower the Indonesian music ecosystem," he added.

In August 2018, Ma began his two-year journey to perform Johann Sebastian Bach’s Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello. Having been engaged in music for six decades, Ma is moved by Bach’s ability to stand for shared humanity at a time when most civic conversations are so often focused on division. 

For the award-winning musician, Bach’s 300-year-old music is an extraordinary example of how culture connects people and helps them imagine and build a better future. 

"At GoImpact we believe that collaboration and creating an ecosystem are the strong foundations for better development. The same thing is important for music. Yo-Yo Ma’s Bach Project delivers the same idea. This is why we are giving our support for Yo-Yo Ma's Bach Project. We hope that Yo-Yo Ma's Bach Project will popularize the classical music industry in Indonesia and grow the loves of the genre," GoImpact co-founder Andy Ann said.

For this first Indonesian tour, Yo-Yo Ma’s Bach Project has set a very high standard for the venue to ensure that he will deliver the best quality of classical music to audience.  The Jakarta International Theatre was chosen as the venue for the richness of its acoustic environment, as much for the richness of its surroundings. 

"We are very proud to be part of Yo-Yo Ma’s Bach Project. This will be the first of its class and the finest classical concert in Indonesia. We believe the Jakarta International Theatre is the ideal venue to support Yo-Yo’s Ma Bach Project,” Bernard Grover, general manager of Jakarta International Theatre, said. 

“The theatre’s world-class acoustic environment and high end equipment is ideally suited for this event. The international standard, proscenium arch theatre has a three-tier auditorium with 2,500 unrestricted view seats,” he added. 

The theatre is also supported by multiple ballrooms, halls, and meeting rooms to add to a total of 30,000-square-meter grand complex. 

“The theatre features one of the world’s premier sound systems, with a total of 280 speakers. Most importantly for this event is the exquisite acoustic design that will perfectly resonate with Mr. Ma’s performance,” Gorver said.  

“In Mr. Ma’s performance, we will use the Meyer Constellation for passive amplification, to ensure every member of the audience can enjoy the subtlest nuances of Mr. Ma’s performance. This will preserve the purity of the natural sound without sacrificing clarity in any part of the hall. Altogether, we intend to make this an unforgettable experience for everybody!”

Tickets to Yo-Yo Ma’s Bach Project will be made available at a starting price of Rp. 715,000. The organizers said BCA credit cardholders are entitled to 20% discount for purchase during presales and normal sales.