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A different sound in the LHC tunnel

World-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma performs 100 metres underground at the Large Hadron Collider

Yo-Yo Ma in the LHC tunnel
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma performs 100 metres underground at the Large Hadron Collider (Image: Maximilien Brice/CERN)

On a recent visit to CERN, the world-famous cellist, Yo-Yo Ma played in a unique music hall – 100 metres underground in the tunnel of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

This video shows Yo-Yo Ma playing the Prélude from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major.

“I have always thought that philosophy, arts, and sciences belong together as equal partners in this thing we call culture,” explained Yo-Yo Ma. “We must fight for this belief. Because the widening gaps between disciplines of inquiry and between culture, economics, and politics have led to increasing and frightening fractures in the world.”

Speaking after the performance, CERN’s Director-General, Fabiola Gianotti said “It was a great moment of music in a very special place, and an occasion to underline the deep links between art and science.”   

A different sound in the LHC tunnel – the world-famous cellist, Yo-Yo Ma played in this unique music hall. (Video: CERN)