Deeply expressive, virtuosic cello sonatas from Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason

Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason
© James Hole

Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello)

Isata Kanneh-Mason (piano)

7.30pm, Tuesday 28 May 2024

Barbican Hall, London

★★★★

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1947): Cello Sonata No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 45

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): Cello Sonata No. 5 in D major, Op. 102 No. 2

Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924): Cello Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 109

Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849): Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 65

Encore:

Chopin: Largo from Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 65

Sheku & Isata Kanneh-Mason
© Nick Boston

Mendelssohn:

'It is a lightly joyful work, and Sheku and Isata played with nimble delicacy'.

Beethoven:

'From the funereal opening, with Isata’s low soft chords and Sheku’s long sustained line, right through to the final falling harmonies and low cello notes to end, they showed remarkable sensitivity in this typically profound late Beethovenian statement'.

Fauré:

'Sheku and Isata passed the melodic fragments back and forth, with some deft pedalling from Isata in the central movement in particular to avoid muddying the line among the rich textures'.

Chopin:

'... it was the sad, lyrical Largo that sat at the heart of this performance, Sheku and Isata at their expressive best, each seamlessly taking the baton of sustained melody from the other'.

Isata & Sheku Kanneh-Mason
© Nick Boston

'This was an impressive evening from two rapidly maturing performers, not afraid to bring chamber music to audiences more familiar with more standard virtuosic concerto displays'. 

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.