Songs from the Arc of Life

Songs from the Arc of Life is a collaborative album by cellist Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Kathryn Stott released in 2015. The album peaked at position 137 on the Billboard 200.

Background

Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott had their first performance together in 1984 and have since been longtime friends and collaborators. Reflecting on their lengthy past together, Ma and Stott created the album to reflect change over a life with compositions they enjoy. The album's title is a likely nod to Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder. Ma and Stott released the album just before Ma's 60th birthday.

Critical reception

The album was well-received. Fiona Maddocks wrote for The Observer that the album was "warm, engaged, vital music making by two of the finest musicians around." James Manheim for AllMusic called it a chart-topping "exceptional package". Classic FM named it their "Album of the Week" for the week starting on September 14, 2015.