An Open Spirit – Sheku Kanneh-Mason’s rise to become one of the most prominent cellists of our time has been nothing short of meteoric: in 2016, at the age of 17, he was named BBC Young Musician of the Year; in 2018 came his internationally acclaimed performance at a royal wedding; and in 2020 his album “Elgar” entered the UK Albums Chart, making him the first cellist in history to reach the Top 10 and the first classical instrumentalist to do so in more than 30 years. Through extensive media coverage, the public came to know not only the charismatic artist from Nottingham, but also his down-to-earth, musical family, whose extraordinary dedication enabled an entire group of exceptionally gifted siblings to pursue their musical education.

As soon as Sheku Kanneh-Mason puts bow to string, the otherwise composed and unassuming young musician seems to ignite – whether seeking a spirit of partnership and dialogue in chamber music or appearing as a soloist with leading orchestras. “Kanneh-Mason’s cello sound is an event in itself; it bores into the ear and sets it vibrating,” wrote Alexander Dick in the Badische Zeitung on the occasion of his Albert debut in 2024. For all his stylistic curiosity, this versatile artist remains devoted to works that have shaped him over many years, among them Joseph Haydn’s two surviving cello concertos, which continue to set standards for lyricism, balance and virtuosic elegance.

He is joined by the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra, an ensemble comprising musicians from leading international orchestras and celebrated, under its Music Director Gábor Takács-Nagy, as one of the world’s foremost chamber orchestras. Kanneh-Mason says that Haydn is the composer he has performed most often, particularly through his string quartets and chamber music: “It is a language I know and love.” He adds: “Haydn has a spirit unlike any other – an open spirit.”