In Depth - Sheku And Isata Kanneh-Mason Program

On the Sheku And Isata Kanneh-Mason program Tuesday, December 10, 2024 • 7:30 p.m. Memorial Hall:

Cello Sonata No. 1, Op. 109 in D Minor (1917–19)…………………………………………Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924)

Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 143 (1940–48), rev. 1953………………………………Francis Poulenc (1899–1963)

Tor Mordôn (“Sea mount of light”) Cincinnati Premiere…………………………………Natalie Klouda (b. 1984)

Cello Sonata No.1 in B-Flat Major, Op. 45 (1838–24)…………………………………….Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847)

ABOUT THE KANNEH-MASONS

Sheku Kanneh-Mason burst onto the world stage at 19 when he performed for a television audience of 2 billion during the 2018 royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the same year as his first Decca recording. Like his sister Isata before him, from age 9 Sheku was a scholarship student at London’s Royal Academy of Music.

Now 25, Sheku has performed at the BBC Proms every year since 2017, holding the coveted role of guest soloist at the 2022 Last Night of the Proms. In 2020, his recording of the Elgar cello concerto with the London Symphony and Sir Simon Rattle made him the first cellist to have an album reach the UK’s Top Ten. He received an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List the same year. In April 2024, he debuted with the Cincinnati Symphony and in June Decca his recording of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with Nicola Benedetti and Benjamin Grovenor.

At the advanced age of 28, Isata Kanneh-Mason is the eldest of seven and the initial musical inspiration for all of her siblings. At 9, she became the sole Black student at the Royal Academy, her scholarship supported by Sir Elton John with whom she has performed. Her first Decca album, celebrating Clara Schumann’s music, debuted at #1 on the UK’s classical charts.

Isata was artist-in-residence with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and has performed with the Baltimore Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Philadelphia Orchestra, among many. She made her BBC Proms debut in 2023 following release of her third Decca album.

THE PROGRAM

The Kanneh-Masons present a program of rarely heard gems that will be repeated five days later at Carnegie Hall.

Cello Sonata No. 1, Op. 109 in D Minor (1917–19)
Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924)

Fauré is particularly known for small-scale chamber and choral works. Until relatively recently, his larger works, including his two cello sonatas, were seldom performed. His Requiem, which closed the May Festival season this year, is an exception. This sonata presents a bold contrast to his elegant, low key earlier works.

Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 143 (1940–48), rev. 1953
Francis Poulenc (1899–1963)

This sonata was dedicated to the great French cellist Pierre Fournier, who helped with the technical aspects of the cello part. It was premiered in Paris by Poulenc as pianist and Fournier as cellist.

Tor Mordôn (“Sea mount of light”), Cincinnati Premiere
Natalie Klouda (b. 1984)

British violinist-composer Natalie Klouda has performed in major venues including Wigmore Hall, Concertgebouw, and Carnegie Hall. During the Covid lockdown she was commissioned by the BBC to write Nightscapes 2020, premiered by Isata Kanneh-Mason in 2021. Tor Mordôn was written for the Kanneh- Masons. It will be premiered in London this fall.

Cello Sonata No. 1 in B-Flat Major, Op. 45 (1838–24)
Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847)

Mendelssohn’s five cello works span the Classical and Romantic eras, as did Beethoven’s. The Sonata in B-Flat, was written for his younger brother, Paul. As is typical for the composer, the music quickly turns from sunny to dramatic. The piano part requires deep virtuosity. The finale is a showpiece.

Sheku And Isata Kanneh-Mason performs these works:

Tuesday, December 10, 2024 • 7:30 p.m.
Memorial Hall