Sheku Kanneh-Mason
The multi-award-winning British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason releases a new album, "Elgar," centered around Elgar's famous Cello Concerto. Considered one of the most important works in the classical cello repertoire, the concerto recently celebrated its centenary. The recording was made at Abbey Road Studios with the renowned London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle. Sheku was inspired to learn the cello as a child after hearing Jacqueline du Pré's legendary 1965 interpretation of the Elgar Concerto. Now 20 years old, he describes how the piece's emotional depth deeply moved him. For the new album, Elgar's Cello Concerto serves as a starting point to explore the musical transformation in Europe around the time of the war. In addition to Elgar's works, the album includes compositions by Julius Klengel, Gabriel Fauré, and the Swiss composer Ernst Bloch.