SWR Symphony Orchestra

Unparalleled energy from A to Z - Sheku Kanneh-Mason remembers having cold fingers when he played his part in the meticulously planned ceremony of a royal wedding in London in 2018 without the usual warm-up. The warmth of his calmly sung performance gave no hint of this: He captivated not only the hundreds of guests in attendance, but also an audience of billions watching on screens around the world. Even then, he was no longer unknown: in 2016, he had caused a stir as the winner of the BBC Young Musician Competition, and the media had already become aware of his large music-loving, music-making family in 2015 - a sympathetic contrast to the strict drill that is often assumed behind such outstanding young talents.

Edward Elgar's concerto, or more precisely the famous recording by Jacqueline du Pré from 1965, whose emotional impact immediately gripped him as a young boy, was not the only reason why he chose the cello as his main instrument. In the meantime, Sheku Kanneh-Mason has performed Elgar's melodious swan song to the 19th century, composed in 1919, on concert stages all over the world.

In the second half of the concert, the SWR Symphonieorchester and conductor Christoph Eschenbach, who has long been associated with the orchestra, present Johannes Brahms' last symphony. As usual, the work, which was premiered in 1885, had both admirers and critics; but it speaks volumes how people spoke about it during the rehearsals. Conductor Hans von Bülow found "No. IV gigantic, quite peculiar, completely new, a brazen individuality. Athmet unparalleled energy from a to z." And his assistant, the young Richard Strauss, also raved about the "gigantic work, of a greatness of conception and invention, genius in the treatment of form, period construction, of eminent momentum and power, new and original".

Program:
Elgar, Cello Concerto in E minor op. 85
Brahms, Symphony No. 4 in E minor op. 9

Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello
Christoph Eschenbach, conductor
SWR Symphonieorchester

EUR 109,- / 97,- / 83,- / 61,- / 49,- incl. fees

Sheku Kanneh-Mason | Photo © Ollie Ali