Some siblings argue over chores; Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason, apparently, just master Chopin together. She’s a pianist born in 1996, he’s a cellist born in 1999—feel old yet? Their performance at the Barbican was nothing short of breathtaking, with a musical chemistry that made every note feel alive.
The night’s highlight was their Chopin, performed with clarity and emotion. But it was Mendelssohn’s Sonata for Cello and Piano that struck a deeply personal chord. Fifteen years ago, I organised a campaign called “Free Mendelssohn!” to protest some attention-grabbing lawyers trying to ban the Wedding March for bizarre reasons.
Hearing the Kanneh-Masons breathe life into Mendelssohn’s work felt like a full-circle moment, a reminder that the best concerts are about the unexpected connections they spark to your own history.
👍👍
Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason
Barbican Hall, London
Programme:
Felix Mendelssohn Cello Sonata No 1 in B-flat major
Ludwig van Beethoven Cello Sonata No 5 in D major
Gabriel Fauré Cello Sonata No 1 in D minor
Frédéric Chopin Sonata for Cello and Piano in G minor
Elia Kabanov is a science writer covering the past, present and future of technology (@metkere).
Illustration by Elia Kabanov feat. Midjourney.
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