Yo-Yo Ma brilliant in Seattle Symphony opener

Seldom is a gala more of a gala than when Yo-Yo Ma is present. The stellar cellist, who was the soloist of Saturday's Seattle Symphony Opening Night Concert & Gala, lifted the evening to a whole new level — playing two works and two surprise encores.

With Ma drawing the most exquisite sounds from his cello against a rich orchestral backdrop, it wasn't long before the entire audience was flying Air Yo-Yo, the world's most heavenly airline. It's difficult to describe his playing without resorting to airborne metaphors; the music seems to float right off his cello, whether it is the somber Fauré "Elégie" or the impassioned Saint-Saëns A Minor Concerto (No. 1).

The consummate ease of Ma's playing allows him to devote all his energy to divinely subtle details, which were especially present in his nuanced reading of the concerto. Gerard Schwarz and the orchestra gave him careful partnership, though it sometimes was hard to hear the cello's quietest passages.

After the Saint-Saëns, Ma surprised everybody by drawing the evening's exceptionally fine concertmaster, Ani Kavafian, to her feet for a duo encore: the second movement of Ravel's Sonata for Violin and Cello, played with tremendous wit and rapport. Wild applause from the audience brought the cellist back again — this time tapping the orchestra's principal cellist, Joshua Roman, for a nimble Allegro Prestissimo from a Jean Barriêre G Major Sonata for Two Cellos.

The French-accented evening opened with a highly colorful reading of Gershwin's "An American in Paris," and went on to the French composers. Schwarz chose Ravel's "Pavane for a Dead Princess" (with a remarkable solo by principal horn John Cerminaro), and Ravel's Suite No. 2 from "Daphnis and Chloe" (with some spectacular playing from the flutes and clarinets). The finale, Ravel's famous "Bolero," featured drummer Ron Johnson against a backdrop of sensuous solos.

What an auspicious start to the season. The evening also saw the presentation of the Seattle Symphony 2007 Arts Award to the Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, whose $10 million commitment to the Symphony has been vital to the orchestra's survival.