Sheku Kanneh-Mason - Inspiration (2018)

One of the brightest young stars in classical music, teenage cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, teams up with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) and Music Director Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla for his debut album. Recorded in Birmingham and Sheku’s hometown of Nottingham during two CBSO concerts conducted by Gražinytė-Tyla, the album features Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No.1 – the piece which propelled Sheku to fame as the first black winner of BBC Young Musician in the competition’s 38-year history. Sheku has been on a whirlwind adventure since winning BBC Young Musician 2016 – performing Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ at the BAFTAs in front of Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, playing at 10 Downing Street as part of the 30th anniversary of Black History Month, and making his BBC Proms debut as a soloist with Chineke! – Europe’s first majority BME (black and minority ethnic) orchestra – with the video of his performance going viral. All this whilst completing his A-Levels, graduating from Trinity School in Nottingham and starting his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Tracklist

1. Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Oliver James & CBSO Cellos - Hadar: Evening Of Roses (Arr. Cello, Clarinet & Ensemble)
2. Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Katherine Thomas & CBSO Cellos - Saint-Saëns: Le Carnaval des Animaux, R.125 - 13. The Swan (Arr. Cello, Harp & Ensemble)
3. Sheku Kanneh-Mason & CBSO Cellos - Anonymous: Song Of The Birds
4. Sheku Kanneh-Mason, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla - Shostakovich: The Gadfly Suite, Op. 97a - 10. Nocturne
5. Sheku Kanneh-Mason, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla - Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No.1 in E Flat Major, Op.107 - 1. Allegretto
6. Sheku Kanneh-Mason, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla - Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No.1 in E Flat Major, Op.107 - 2. Moderato
7. Sheku Kanneh-Mason, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla - Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No.1 in E Flat Major, Op.107 - 3. Cadenza
8. Sheku Kanneh-Mason, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla - Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No.1 in E Flat Major, Op.107 - 4. Allegro con moto
9. Sheku Kanneh-Mason, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla - Offenbach: Harmonies des bois, Op. 76 - 2. Jacqueline’s Tears (Arr. Cello & Orchestra)
10. Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Guy Johnston & CBSO Cellos - Casals: Sardana
11. Sheku Kanneh-Mason - Marley: No Woman, No Cry (Arr. Cello)
12. Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Didier Osindero, Alinka Rowe & Yong Jun Lee - Cohen: Hallelujah (Arr. Cello & Strings)