From creativity to curiosity and the wish to explore the unknown, physics and music are intrinsically linked. For one special evening held at CERN Science Gateway, world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and CERN physicist and Director-General, Fabiola Gianotti, discussed the commonalities and relations between physics and music and the human experiences of both.

The duo musically demonstrated concepts such as the mystery of dark matter, symmetries, complexity built upon simplicity, with Ma on the cello and Gianotti on the piano. Together, they played Franz Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata, while a recording of Debussy’s La Cathédrale Engloutie accompanied striking images of the CERN experiments. To close the evening, Ma played a contemplative performance of Arvo Pärt’s Spiegel im Spiegel.

Watch highlights of the evening by clicking on the link below.