SEAN SHIBE (guitar)
14 October 2018 at 4.00 pm
At the age of 20, Sean was the first guitarist to be selected for BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists scheme. ‘A genius, a term which should rarely be applied to performing musicians’ (Arts Desk). In May 2018, he won the Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Best Young Artist.
Villa-Lobos:
J.S. Bach: Scottish Lute manuscripts Dowland: Britten: |
Etude No 8, Preludes 3 and 4
Suite in C minor BWV 997 Fantasia in E major Nocturnal after John Dowland Op. 70 |
REVIEW
There were so many ways in which Sunday’s OMS recital by guitarist Sean Shibe was a fulfilment of what we music lovers are hoping for when we come to a concert.
First, they heard a 26 year old who, in the last few months, has seen his career and public image taking off, with important awards and significant publicity attending his successes – he is already a ‘name’.
Then, for most of us, the opportunity of hearing a full-length solo guitar recital is a rare pleasure; so this gives us a chance of hearing unfamiliar music in an intimate and ideal setting.
And the programme he played was shrewdly constructed to allow us to have variety, with music written for the guitar (Villa-Lobos and Britten), alongside transcriptions of lute music (Bach and Dowland), with Sean’s own arrangements of long-forgotten lute manuscripts from 17th century Scotland. The Britten Nocturnal, in all senses, formed a fitting climax to the afternoon; what a shame that Britten never again wrote for the guitar.
Then, Sean’s platform manner created an aura of integrity; there was no flamboyance in presentation, while he directed all his attention to his music making. His informal introductions were directed simply to the music and illuminated his approach with sympathy and knowledge.
But, above all, it was the maturity and depth of his musicianship which made this such a revelation and a musical experience to treasure. Revelation, in that his masterly technique allowed us to hear the full range of expression of which the guitar is capable, with dynamics stretching from a torrent of notes, right down to the tiniest droplet of sound. Allied to this was a sense of shape which made, for example, the Britten variations on a theme we have not yet heard, a musically compelling 17 minutes; the eventual statement of the Dowland theme was a sublime minute of peace and fulfilment. He was able to draw us in to the sound world he created, carrying us with him in way which few musicians can emulate. ‘Easy listening’ it certainly wasn’t, but the clarity of his playing made for ease in following all his musical thought.
Sean’s journey through music should be an encouragement to any aspiring guitarist (of whom there were several at The Muse on Sunday). His education was in Scotland where music education was, and still is, free. He started group lessons at school aged seven, then moved on to specialist primary school, and to City of Aberdeen Music School. He graduated from Scotland’s Royal Conservatoire in 2012. He also studied the cello for seven years which introduced him to the wider world of chamber music. His next CD is a collaboration with British tenor Ben Johnson, due for release next April. He is interested in the coming years with the idea of commissioning new works from British contemporaries, an exciting prospect for all.
There were so many ways in which Sunday’s OMS recital by guitarist Sean Shibe was a fulfilment of what we music lovers are hoping for when we come to a concert.
First, they heard a 26 year old who, in the last few months, has seen his career and public image taking off, with important awards and significant publicity attending his successes – he is already a ‘name’.
Then, for most of us, the opportunity of hearing a full-length solo guitar recital is a rare pleasure; so this gives us a chance of hearing unfamiliar music in an intimate and ideal setting.
And the programme he played was shrewdly constructed to allow us to have variety, with music written for the guitar (Villa-Lobos and Britten), alongside transcriptions of lute music (Bach and Dowland), with Sean’s own arrangements of long-forgotten lute manuscripts from 17th century Scotland. The Britten Nocturnal, in all senses, formed a fitting climax to the afternoon; what a shame that Britten never again wrote for the guitar.
Then, Sean’s platform manner created an aura of integrity; there was no flamboyance in presentation, while he directed all his attention to his music making. His informal introductions were directed simply to the music and illuminated his approach with sympathy and knowledge.
But, above all, it was the maturity and depth of his musicianship which made this such a revelation and a musical experience to treasure. Revelation, in that his masterly technique allowed us to hear the full range of expression of which the guitar is capable, with dynamics stretching from a torrent of notes, right down to the tiniest droplet of sound. Allied to this was a sense of shape which made, for example, the Britten variations on a theme we have not yet heard, a musically compelling 17 minutes; the eventual statement of the Dowland theme was a sublime minute of peace and fulfilment. He was able to draw us in to the sound world he created, carrying us with him in way which few musicians can emulate. ‘Easy listening’ it certainly wasn’t, but the clarity of his playing made for ease in following all his musical thought.
Sean’s journey through music should be an encouragement to any aspiring guitarist (of whom there were several at The Muse on Sunday). His education was in Scotland where music education was, and still is, free. He started group lessons at school aged seven, then moved on to specialist primary school, and to City of Aberdeen Music School. He graduated from Scotland’s Royal Conservatoire in 2012. He also studied the cello for seven years which introduced him to the wider world of chamber music. His next CD is a collaboration with British tenor Ben Johnson, due for release next April. He is interested in the coming years with the idea of commissioning new works from British contemporaries, an exciting prospect for all.