Best Of Tucson®

Best Classical Music Performance

Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax

If you add up all the votes for various Tucson Symphony Orchestra performances--the Beethoven's Ninth concert was especially popular--the home team would have won handily in this category. But the single event that got the most mentions featured a pair of out-of-towners: cellist Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Emanuel Ax. You'd expect a spectacular performance from this duo; the more interesting point about this Dec. 5 concert is that it sold out (some seats cost as much as $250, but most pricing was more realistic), and that the program raised money for the education and world-music programs of UApresents. That presenter could use the cash; this was one of its few interesting classical concerts last season not canceled due to crippling organizational debt.

Runner up: Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9

Unclear on the concept: Cats, one vote