CCMusic.com

Three CDs. Yo-Yo Ma and long-time friend and musical partner Emanuel Ax reunite for Hope Amid Tears, a new recording of Beethoven complete works for cello and piano, on Sony Classical. Hope Amid Tears presents Beethoven five sonatas for cello and piano in the order in which they were composed, tracing an important arc in Beethoven's development and approach as a composer. Ma and Ax have made music together for more than 40 years, recording dozens of albums, earning five Grammy Awards, and performing on stages all over the world. Their friendship is not only rooted in a deep love of music, but also a shared sense of humor and keen perspectives on life's joys and challenges. Hope Amid Tears is their second recording of the complete Beethoven cello sonatas, after a 1987 effort that earned the duo their second Grammy.