Living on the Borders
In an era where cultures are becoming more entrenched and bitter, famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma brought his Bach Project to the border crossing between the sister cities of Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico in an effort for acquiring more understanding. He is visiting 36 locations around the world to show how the 300-year-old music can build and explore connections between cultures.
He chose this particular place and time to show that there are other alternatives to suspicion, fear and anger. To highlight the commonalities among cultures, Ma chose a location where two communities, heralding two diverse cultures, have worked out a respectful relationship for decades. As Laredo mayor, Pete Saenz put it: "And although people may perceive us as being so different, we're not. Here the border is extremely unique in that it's one organism. I've always said we're interdependent, interconnected. We survived because the humanity survives, especially here on the border area." He acknowledged that the presence of a river and a bridge could lead to senses of alienation and difference, but instead the two communities have used them as shared resources – commonalities that bring them together.
The noted cellist played in the shadow of the bridge in both communities, saying his overall theme was an appreciation what the two cities have established and how they see themselves as one community sharing a diverse culture.
Yo-Yo Ma’s mix of rare talent and a positive outlook found its reflection in the concerts. One local cellist noted, “For him to connect cello with what's happening in the world is like, it's a cultural bridge that was just built, and it's amazing." The analogy of the bridge was something Ma referred to in both locations:
"As you all know, as you did and do and will do, in culture, we build bridges, not walls. I've lived my life at the borders. Between cultures. Between disciplines. Between musics. Between generations."
Ma launched his project in 2018, in response to the rise of a global wave of populism that inevitably promoted hatred of “the other” and bred suspicion and anxiety. He opted to spend two years travelling the world performing Bach’s six suites for solo cello in the belief that music has an ability to connect cultures and humanity. The world has seen this over and over again through the centuries: where the words, the animosities, the politics, the tribalism leave off, music and the arts begin, weaving their mysticism of humanity and commonality. And on a border where dedicated attempts are being made to roil the waters between two great nations, Yo-Yo Ma simply used the power of music to build a bridge over the wall.
