The Kanneh-Masons and friends at the Aldeburgh Festival

Braimah, Isata and Sheku Kanneh-Mason with Edgar Francis and Toby Hughes

Braimah, Isata and Sheku Kanneh-Mason

By Roy Westbrook, 22 June 2024

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“the Scherzo especially was dispatched with irresistible élan”

Reviewed at Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Snape on 21 June 2024

Mendelssohn, Cello Sonata no. 1 in B flat major, Op.45

Brahms, Piano Trio no. 2 in C major, Op.87

Schubert, Piano Quintet in A major, "The Trout", D.667

Braimah Kanneh-Mason, Violin

Edgar Francis, Viola

Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Cello

Toby Hughes, Double Bass

Isata Kanneh-Mason, Piano

Exciting but inconsistent playing from the EUYO at Carnegie Hall

Cameron Kelsall, 6th August

Under Iván Fischer's direction, Mahler's First Symphony is notable more for bombastic passion than subtle artistry.

***11

Expressive, virtuosic cello sonatas from Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason

Nick Boston, 28th May

An impressive evening at the Barbican from two rapidly maturing performers, unafraid to bring chamber music to audiences more familiar with standard virtuosic concerto displays.

****1

Isata Kanneh-Mason makes a glittering Proms debut in Prokofiev

Dominic Lowe, 1st August

The BBC National Orchestra of Wales under Ryan Bancroft joined Kanneh-Mason as she tackled Prokofiev's most popular piano concerto with easy dexterity, then delivering a powerful performance of Tchaikovsky.

***11

Colour and thrills from Hindoyan, Kanneh-Mason and the RLPO

Peter Connors, 27th April

Isata Kanneh-Mason thrills with sparking fingerwork in Prokofiev, while the RLPO and Domingo Hindoyan are just as dazzling in Falla and Stravinsky.

****1

Hiding in plain sight: Ilan Volkov steals the show at Symphony Hall

Simon Cummings, 22nd February

A self-effacing, literal approach from conductor Ilan Volkov brings marvellous transparency to works by Sibelius and Prokofiev, while highlighting the flaws in a new work by Freya Waley-Cohen.

****1

Domingo Hindoyan waltzes into Liverpool

Peter Connors, 9th September

The RLPO with their new chief conductor herald a return to full-scale orchestral performances with an evening of dances, plus Clara Schumann's far too rarely heard Piano Concerto.

****1

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Roy Westbrook

Roy Westbrook gained a diploma in music history at London University (Morley College) and was for some years the head of music day schools at Oxford University, where he also led music summer schools. After some years leading the University's business school he has returned to music teaching and writing, and recently took part in the Arts in Residence courses on Bruckner, Mahler and Bach He is co-author (with Terry Barfoot) of a history of opera, and has taught day schools on Sibelius in Oxford and elsewhere.

The Kanneh-Masons and friends at the 75th Aldeburgh Festival