G.O.A.T. worthy
A Night at the Symphony with Yo-Yo Ma
Twelve months ago, when the San Francisco Symphony released the upcoming 2026 schedule of events, my husband and I perused the calendar to select three or four performances to attend. Intent on expanding our cultural horizons and taking advantage of the diverse experiences our city offers, we were ecstatic to find that Yo-Yo Ma was on the schedule. They were probably the most expensive tickets of the season, but we felt they were worth the splurge. After all, he is considered to be the greatest cellist of all time, and who knows how much longer he’ll be touring?
But it was a splurge. What if it wasn’t worth it? What if he wasn’t as good as he used to be? Isn’t listening to him play on Spotify enough? What even makes someone the “greatest of all time”? Who decides?
As we navigated the pre-performance crowd, the excitement in the venue was palpable. When we checked our coats, the attendant shared, “With no intermission, I hope he does an encore,” and that she looked forward to sneaking in to catch a glimpse of the performance on her break. Families with children of all ages, dressed for the occasion, milled around the lobby, chattering with anticipation. Couples of all ages and variety toasted with champagne to commemorate the moment.
The energy of the evening got me thinking about the title of “G.O.A.T.” Not just if someone like Yo-Yo Ma was worthy of it, but the responsibility that goes with it. There is the journey to “greatness” — the incredible hard work, the learning, the sacrifice, the failures, the resilience, the luck, the talent, the recognition, and the network that leads any one person to be deemed G.O.A.T. worthy. But once someone is crowned a “G.O.A.T.,” I can only imagine the tremendous pressure to prove their worthiness of the title.
When Yo-Yo Ma took the stage, expected applause erupted. A random attendee called out, “We love you!” No proof necessary.
Yo-Yo Ma graciously smiled, thanked everyone, and indicated people should take their seats. Then, he said a few words about what an honor it was to be able to play with the San Francisco Symphony, particularly praising the evening’s conductor, James Gaffigan, and the first chair violinist, Alexander Barantschik, before dedicating the performance to the recently deceased SF Symphony Director of 25 years, Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT).
As Ma played the first strains of music, the entire audience was transported. You could hear a pin drop. His passion for the music, the story it told, the emotions it evoked, became a transcendental experience. I have never witnessed an artist give themselves over so completely to their craft. As a tear rolled down my cheek, I understood.
“G.O.A.T.” worthy is not about greatness for the individual. It is for the betterment of humanity. It is an exercise in “a rising tide lifts all boats.” It is about humility, leadership, and stewardship. It is about giving all of yourself to something that inspires and connects us all — mind, body, and spirit.
As my husband and I left that evening amid the murmurings of the crowd, we both felt a little disoriented. As we walked outside and made our way to our car, he said, “Well, that was something.” To which I could only say, “Yes. Something spectacular.” Something “G.O.A.T.” worthy.
Thank you for taking a few minutes of your time to read my words. ✨
As always, I welcome your insights and encourage you to join the conversation in the comments. What thoughts do you have about being “G.O.A.T.” worthy?
ⓒ Angie Gascho 2026. All rights reserved.
Love this story.
Oh, Angie. Wish I could have heard him perform live, too. How I miss such opportunities. Thank you for sharing this incredible experience. Gives me hope.