… radiant and surprisingly hopeful …

— Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times

… restive, cosmic and formidably difficult … a cello concerto equivalent to the ‘Sacrificial Dance’ from Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.

— Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times

[Salonen’s Cello Concerto] plays loosely with traditional concerto form but fills that free-form structure with the kinds of things [Ma] does better than any cellist around. It is as much a showpiece for his stupendous instrumental gift as it is a study in opposing forces — think quiescent clouds of lyricism giving way to punchy hyperactivity, and back again.

— John Von Rhein, Chicago Tribune

… a superb creation and an exciting addition to the repertoire …

— Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle