Sheku Kanneh-Mason - Rachmaninov, Elégie

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ‘Spellbinding’ - The Times ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ‘Astounding’ - The Observer
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, the record-breaking 19 year-old British cellist who became a viral sensation after being personally invited by the Duchess of Sussex to perform at Royal Wedding in May 2018. He previously rose to fame as the first black musician to win BBC Young Musician in 2016 and winner of The Times South Bank Breakthrough award 2017. Performing regularly as a soloist and twice at the BAFTA awards, Sheku’s debut album ‘Inspiration’ was released early 2018.
Sheku’s version of Bob Marley’s ‘No Woman, No Cry’ went viral worldwide and he became the first BBC Young Musician winner to enter the Official UK Albums Chart with a debut recording, as well as the youngest cellist ever to reach the Top 20. He is one of this year’s biggest breakthrough artists - across any genre.
Sheku has been on a whirlwind adventure since winning BBC Young Musician 2016 - performing Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ at the BAFTAs in front of Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, playing at 10 Downing Street as part of the 30th anniversary of Black History Month, and making his BBC Proms debut as a soloist with Chineke! - Europe’s first majority BME (black and minority ethnic) orchestra - with the video of his performance going viral. He now studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
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[@youngpaderewski3668]

This elegy has been one of my favorite pieces on the piano for years. Then I heard Sheku's performance of it on the cello last week, and I couldn't believe how much more vivid it sounds. It's as though Sheku brought Rachmaninoff's spirit back to life.

[@monikawerner7891]

I feel right the same👍👍👍!

[@targaryangirlalways5634]

Do you know of any other songs that sound as mournful and beautiful as this? Recommendation please.

[@youngpaderewski3668]

@@targaryangirlalways5634 F. Chopin: Etude op. 25 no. 7 in C sharp minor (Horowitz)

[@monikawerner7891]

@@youngpaderewski3668 Bruch: Kol Nidrei for violoncello and orchestra. And: Theme from Schindler's list for Violoncello and orchester. (It's even greater than the version with violin, in my opinion😉)

[@rigavitch]

@@youngpaderewski3668 OMG SIGH!!!!!! yes!

[@lindamanas6735]

We mustn’t forget that Isata is a virtuoso in her own right! Sheku’s intonation is spot on. I think both Isata and Sheku have perfect pitch.

[@voyager1369]

Sheku Kanneh-Mason and his sister together is magnificent!

[@marlenenewton6164]

When I see these young people and listen to the music they perform I am hopeful for our children, the world has so much hatred in it.and finding these young musicians have lite a light in my soul.

[@lynneleeluckdowsing6654]

De acuerdo, d'accord; yep!

[@Kiarinadia]

So it is her sister playing ! Thanks because it is not mention anywhere on the video.

[@waynecrburnett]

@@Kiarinadia It really should be in the information section, shouldn't it!

[@sanpablolasvegas5704]

His sister should've told him about his back of his head. FLAT AS AFRO. Not to mention the original artist who made this was a slave owner so lets not pretend BLM hasn't been discrediting all historical slave owners and racists. Mmmmkay

[@courtneyhenley681]

I am obsessed with Sheku and love his whole family. I discovered him while I was home fighting the coronavirus and can't stop listening. He moves me to tears. Whoever disliked this needs to never vote again on you tube,

[@FREELEOONE]

I agree. He and his family helped to get me through these last few months with their family concerts. They made being quarantined just a little bit easer.

[@dancinmiriam8165]

Amen! There is no way to dislike this! Who are the cretins who either don't understand music or are bitter, lesser accomplished musicians?

[@monikazilincikova127]

People probably disliked because of the music video. You can see he built it up from more than 2 videos. Sometimes there is a broke hair sometimes not. For example, see fingering in 3:13

[@ceciliabutler5980]

I agree. They have perfect pitch, tone, modulation to the music. This is a miracle ear family!!! ;)

[@lindajeffords-knight4355]

So glad I watched the Royal wedding today or I never would have known about this young man!

[@louisefleming3117]

me too.

[@revbores]

You can find him playing with Chineke Orchestra. Next tour date , Royal Festival Hall 21 July , 2018. I will be there.

[@irinaki2011]

Me too!

[@patriciabilinkas3911]

Linda Jeffords-Knight I went on Amazon to buy his CD but it is sold out. No surprise there.

[@Whey2lovely]

yeah, he slipped by me too

[@corazoncubano5372]

This is how you play the cello with soul. Fabulous

[@TellyTingz2000]

Asensio Rodriguez 😊

[@brucefaure9757]

His lines are absolutely stunning. every ounce of his soul goes into each note. love his slurs, vibrato, everything about him. his musicality is so mature for his age. sublime. thank you for giving me this opportunity to feel this pathos sheku.

[@matthewharner1744]

ok

[@af92ub29]

0:35 Ooof! That chord was sublime, perfection to the ear! I love Sheku as a cellist now!

[@sedekiman]

He plays like this at 19 imagine the sound when he is 50!

[@duncanhutcheson2965]

wtf he is 19?!

[@MsBettyRubble]

Thank goodness I'll be dead by then. I don't think I could handle that much beauty at once. I'm already struggling now.

[@taneshiafilmore-knox7414]

@@MsBettyRubble I concur! I cannot put what I feel into words!

[@MsBettyRubble]

@@taneshiafilmore-knox7414 IKR? He and his family are so talented. They have the musical maturity are much older ppl. It's incredible.

[@louismichigan5836]

it will be worse

[@thaddeusford]

Moved me to tears. Passionate. Beyond proficient. Heartfelt. And there’s something so majestic about seeing the descendants of slavery from the African diaspora perform European classical musical...artistically and culturally, it’s freedom personified.

[@garym9473]

What a talented family!!!

[@pollyvynl1213]

Oh WOW he is so taken over by the music that it just tears at your insides ! If that makes sense - I don’t know how else to put it !! It is rare to find a cellist who plays with such soul and emotion - there are many who are technically brilliant and astound with the dexterity of their fingers etc but Sheku is on a different plane completely - thank you ,thank you - you gave my inner self a real work out ! - felt quite worn out by the end . Would love to come to one of your concerts !

[@pollyvynl1213]

PurelyAfrican Oh ! That is just the right word “ otherworldly “ - it is a rare gift indeed !

[@MiiWhisper2]

His music and style touches my inner being! Words cannot describe how watching and listening to Sheku play. I'm so fortunate to have discovered this talented artist.

[@Playthellgb42]

This comment shows that you REALLY LOVE AND UNDERSTAND MUSIC!

[@pattiwilliams4695]

He reminds me a bit of another world-class British cellist - who can forget Jacquie's wonderful almost-human sound, and the way she bonded totally with her instrument? I see many of the same traits in Sheku - he may be the cellist of his generation, as Jacquie was of hers. Such stunning playing....

[@pollyvynl1213]

Genevieve Herbaut - yes super word thank you !!

[@nathancaldwell5443]

Sheku is literally one of the best musicians I have ever listened to.

[@ChuckSteel]

This is achingly beautiful.

[@lynneleeluckdowsing6654]

The operative word being "achingly" It hurts so much.

[@jame2182]

Beautiful

[@charlielane1008]

Let's not ovelook the naturally present emapthy between Sheku and Isata; how lovely to have this talent in your front room

[@duncanmccaulkiner378]

Sheku has been able to make classical music more accessible to many more people in a way in which he still pays respect to the unique style of classical. He is so talented and influential. Well done!

[@Musicsson]

More accessible... by what ??? By not falling into the stereotype "old white cellist"?

[@mr.andrew_andrew]

@@Musicsson yup

[@kookoo9235]

This is the most american comment i've ever read on youtube.

[@MiloMcCarthyMusic]

@@Musicsson yes

[@MsGrandunion]

wow. This is a teenager, albeit one who is exceptional and a worthy winner of BBC YMOTY, but even so this just soars and is far beyond any other arrangement or performance I have heard.

[@BruceBoschek]

Breathtakingly beautiful.

[@jan-pietervanwaasbergen9870]

I love Rachmaninoff music so much, thank you for this recording, at the age of 15 I heard Rachmaninoff for the first time (pianoconcerto nr 2), I was in love with classical music. Now I am 57 years and that love is going stronger and stronger. In april 2021 there will be my first grand child, a grand daugther I hope so will love classical music as much as I do. Greetings from the Netherlands.

[@Titinefer1129]

I keep coming back to this video. It's as if this music has waited to be played by Sheku, on this cello, right now. Soul stirring.

[@colfol231]

I identify with this. 🙏🏻 they are a special family, here for a reason.

[@abioduna.1241]

I like the way you play with all of you. Always in the music. I'm a young Cellist and I hope someday I can play this beautifully!

[@tomtomm6129]

@יובל כוורי Same

[@kenhawkins6662]

I've never heard the piece done more beautifully, ever! Bravo, Bravo!

[@johnrondeau220]

His sister is an incredible accompanist. I'm interested in seeing her play as well.

[@adamhesse2586]

She is excellent as a solo pianist too!

[@InnaBuzina]

Благодарю, божественная музыка и прекрасное ваше исполнение ❤❤❤❤❤

[@DesertRose76]

He has such an emotional maturity to play this piece!!! Not easy to get these gutural sad sounds of a cello when you are only 19!!

[@lynneleeluckdowsing6654]

Thought the rendition of the piece at 17 was incredibly moving; this one is even more refined. Love them both. .. And both siblings as well.

[@annievenus3958]

Such an amazing family, how can anyone not love his music

[@crissybreeze]

I could listen to him play all day long. Royal wedding brought me here. Just breath taking!

[@BK-lc7vb]

I'm going to learn the cello!!!

[@7pianoforte]

Executed with great technical control and musical subtlety.

[@contreras9776]

I literally want to jump up and yell bravo, except I’m in my living room and not at the symphony. I just got so wrapped up in this amazing performance. Bravo. Bravo. Bravo.

[@crystalleotaud-ramos379]

My God! You play beautifully. What a gift.

[@liciarose8475]

*********my star Sheku Kanneh-Mason

[@BK-lc7vb]

Nothing better than the bond siblings share with music... 🥰🥰

[@765lbsquat]

his phrasing and musicality are top notch!

[@donnabutler7041]

I'm 48 and want to play the cello because of you! May your star always shine brightly and your passion never falters.

[@Katyusha-BM13]

Браво, ребята. Отличный дуэт. Хорошо друг друга чувствуете. Фортепиано деликатно sempre pp u ppp, даже там, где экспрессия, нигде не увлеклась, виолончель не забила. Отлично. Прекрасно. Проникновенно. 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@nrice3623]

The piano-solo versions of this piece are great, but this... wow!

[@luisangelortizcaraballo9655]

Tears rolling down in my face... marvelous!

[@sandrazelazna3121]

❤ I love this awesome performance! Wow

[@ranaattie5160]

Both musicians are really exceptional…their Souls are playing…

[@sootioohpepi7698]

Sheku is absolutely my all-time favorite cellist! I LOVE him! Yo-Yo Ma is certainly still in my top favorites. However, Sheku has edged himself above Yo-Yo Ma with me. I love hearing his double-stops! His performances bring out so much emotion in me and I often get chills around the crown of my head and down my shoulders! At times during his performances, he seems so rapt in his music and I think to myself: "If he were to shed a tear while playing, I would absolutely fall to pieces!" As a classically trained percussionist, I have been placed in awe of Sheku and think that it would be such an impressive honor to one day be able to meet and spend time with him! I have such great appreciation for his musical talent!

[@megabugginout]

He has that Jacky Dupre intensity.

[@asmith8815]

@@genevieveherbaut8095 Do you have a bias against any musician that is non European and non white?

[@asmith8815]

@@genevieveherbaut8095 If Mischa Maisky was that good and revered, why was he not asked to play at Tchaikovsky's 150 Celebration in Moscow?

[@colfol231]

@@asmith8815 what a terrible question.

[@tsessebe]

Incredible! Hearing the "Elegie" here, one would never believe this was originally a solo piano piece (from Rachmaninoff's 1892 set Morceaux de Fantaisie, Op. 3).

[@colfol231]

I did not know that! Fantastic. Im sure its beautiful on piano, but WOW!

[@sanpablolasvegas5704]

It was and is Intended to remain a solo piece period. But you know this generation. Take all the original and plagiarize the hell out of it. Almost as if these people have no originality of their own... Cant seem to find true talent anymore. Think. Decades from now we can take some rap music and make it our own and the world will pay is and give us gratitude 😂. If you want my opinion. It takes a true soloist to play this right. This guys is kinda good; however, NOT A TRUE MUSICIAN

[@rafadawabe]

@@sanpablolasvegas5704 I don't understand how playing an adaptation of a piece originally written for another instrument constitutes plagiarism, and also, why would you say that he's not a "true musician", whatever that means. You don't have to necessarily be a composer in order to be a musician you know? As far as adaptations go, Rachmaninov himself made a piano version of Kreisler's Liebesleid (for violin). Would that make him a bad composer then for some reason?

[@sanpablolasvegas5704]

@@rafadawabe But of course you wouldn't understand Rafael... Music plagiarism is the use or close imitation of another author's music while representing it as one's own original work. Plagiarism in music now occurs in two contexts-with a musical idea (that is, a melody or motif) or sampling (taking a portion of one sound recording and reusing it in a different song). For a legal history of the latter see sampling.

[@sanpablolasvegas5704]

@@rafadawabe you probably are that kid who thinks he is smart because you are google/ safari educated but have no credentials whom goes against the grain to question the sensible with senseless rhetoric. Its okay rafael... You just have to admit that you are a bit dumb. Maybe your teacher passed you even tho you failed your classes. So this is your teachers fault. Its not your fault rafael. Just know that

[@thecluelesscomposer]

The sound is so other-worldly, so much depth in it and that vibrato ... ugh

[@nss4472]

Those double notes, ugh! 😄🥰😍🤩👍

[@BytomGirl]

OMG... it made me cry.. he put his soul into it... Rachmaninov would be proud..

[@Lebe964]

The best performance of this piece!

[@ronaldwilliams1698]

So beautiful.

[@muzikizfun]

This is not music, it is pure uncensored emotion that we the audience have the privilege to experience!

[@dyb-yv1tl]

Saw your performance today at the Duke + Duchess of Sussex's wedding- the best Ave Maria instrumental ever. Continued success to you and siblings

[@malcolmgillett]

Sheer beauty performed by two amazing young talented musicians.

[@jimfowler5930]

As a (Baroque lover) Cellist, this brings tears of joy to me-yes, emotional musicians are we! Thank you so much!!

[@waltuh2.3bviews3secondsago3]

i like romantic music a lot so this is pretty perfect for me

[@caroleastmond9064]

Amazingly Wonderful!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@mytake3692]

I've listened to quite a few renditions and Sheku tone and strokes touched me immediately and profoundly.

[@patriciabilinkas3911]

It’s so wonderful to see a musician as gifted as Sheku at one with his music.

[@salehbogary]

I am lucky to have known Sheku after watching the royal wedding .

[@Frozified]

i can't find a better video than this one, i love the passion he puts

[@eduardoitabaiana7429]

Absolutely stunning beautiful composition and performance! Sheku and his Matteo Goffriller are all superb!!! 🎹🎼🎵🎶

[@liciarose8475]

Merci

[@jnelson508]

Brilliant performance. It touches the soul.

[@stanmenshic8993]

How anyone can not find this beautiful and amazingly played is beyond me!

[@clkozski]

Absolutely beautiful...so glad I heard him while watching the Royal Wedding, have not stopped listening to his music. BRAVO!

[@aestains9392]

Tears tear the heart.

[@adamhesse2586]

Sheku and Isata in another awesome duet! He transfers one of my favourite piano pieces so well it sounds like it was written for the cello. Brilliant performance, and very well arranged as a duet. The choice of the voices for each phrase was perfect.

[@roelahilker6053]

The best cellist I have heard in my life (I’m in my late 60s)!

[@sisyarinifridayulia8166]

Bravo. Both of them are amazing!! 👏👏👏👏 Keep up the best work Isata and Sheku!!!

[@ggarygordon8951]

No one can make their cello weep the way Sheku can. Very intense to say the least

[@gilgene5803]

What a great team.

[@korybrown5480]

I gotta thank my teacher for leading me here! This is amazing!

[@kenelliott8944]

Beautiful . . .

[@roxanneswanson8305]

Stellar performance. Heart-rending, and soulful, as well as technically brilliant. Bravo to both Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason.

[@tajmacameron1693]

Stupendous

[@shannonwade9933]

Wow, just wow!

[@edithcifuentes9079]

Está total mente conectado bello🎶🌷

[@michaelhoerig5920]

This music and the magnificent performance brings me to tears...

[@oldbrassman2157]

Two remarkable members of a great musical family. This piece is a joy to hear. And with musicians this young, we can look forward to decades of masterful performances!

[@nch1646]

I was touched, carried away.. bravo to both musicians, they really work wonderfully well together

[@flutepianist]

Sheku, you are certainly one whose name is going to be in big lights from now on. Gorgeous tone, intonation and control, control, control! May you go very far with your talent and passion!

[@nathanvancesr2409]

In a single word - absolutely AMAZING! Ludwig Beethoven would be mighty mighty proud! Hereafter music for the soul at rest! !2020-2026 or else!

[@rosefernandez9960]

Thank you...so very much! 💖🙏🏻

[@tonimikael]

Wow wow wow! 😍

[@emilmckellar4932]

Thak you, brilliance!

[@christopherpackham732]

Wonderful. When I listen to Sheku play, I'm sure he is almost playing what the compose heard in their mind when they wrote the piece!

[@lawrencebrown3677]

The intensity of his playing is incredible so much so that he reaches the heights of sublime perfection made possible only by a profound understanding and feeling for the composers art.

[@dorothyekins8851]

Amazing they compliment each other so well some of the chords are out of this world Thankyou

[@arthurrobinson862]

Brilliant, Fantastic, what more can I say Love his playing. He is such an inspiration to the soul.

[@lornakim9886]

Yes, and his sisters & brother also very Gifted ✨☦️⚓️✨😇💌

[@MagoFaz71]

Bravo!

[@sirot5687]

One of the best pieces ever

[@patrickpowero.n.z.m2773]

He always arrives precisely on pitch in portato , always! Something singers aspire to in slurs,but dont always achieve. Every note has its own life and meaning. TRuly wonderful! Thank you.

[@alimorad3919]

Bravo man!

[@matchapeach1117]

Splendid!

[@annacarolinemarquesdasilva3085]

Magnifique, congrats!

[@johndillinger5142]

thank you

[@JanJohanssonmusic]

outstanding

[@Fgcbear15]

What a pair! So beautiful! Thank you so much for your art! I hope to attend their recital for my birthday next year when things are better.

[@BroCharlesnm]

Wonderful 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿

[@sootioohpepi7698]

Wow, Sheku... just.... WOW! The way that you play this, with such passion and emotion.... the strings themselves seem to cry out! Bravo, sir.... BRAVO!

[@kathleenann631]

There are very few who can create such beauty on a cello.

[@MarconiJazz]

Very beautiful sound + vibrato WoW! This is a stunning version Congrats - Marco