About this Event
"Matthew Shiel shone" (⭐⭐⭐⭐ThisWeek Culture)
Sink into your seat with a complimentary hot chocolate as award-winning pianist Matthew Shiel performs several of the world's greatest and most soulful 'nocturnes.' This recital concludes with arguably three of the most beautiful piano pieces ever composed in music history: Schubert's Serenade, Franz Liszt's Liebestraum No.3 (German - 'Love-dream') and Debussy's Clair de lune (French - 'Moonlight') - performed by atmospheric candlelight in our special candlelit chapel setting.
This concert will also feature a romantic nocturne composed specially for tonight's artist by Matthew's Italian friend and composer Alfredo Caponnetto - Notturno VI.
Often celebrating secret longings, shadows and dreams, a 'nocturne' is a piano peice which is which is composed in evocation of the night. The genre was invented by John Field (1782 - 1837) and made famous by Frédéric Chopin (1810 - 1849) before it was subsequently championed by the 'romantics' - 19th Century composer-pianists such as Franz Liszt (1811-1886), Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893) and Claude Debussy (1862 - 1918).
These candlelit concert experiences are a wonderful way to wind down after a busy week - ticket includes a complimentary hot chocolate to enhance the relaxing experience.
Tonight, this magnificent and historic 19th century chapel is transformed by moonlight and candlelight into a place of musical inspiration as we celebrate the divine beauty of the piano played in the evening!
TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:
Schubert: Serenade and Ave Maria
Tchaikovsky: Venetian Gondola Song and White Nights
Chopin: Nocturnes
Alfredo Caponnetto: Notturno VI
Liszt: Liebestraum No.3 and Consolations
Debussy: La fille aux cheveux de lin and Clair de lune
Tonight's Pianist: Matthew Shiel
Matthew Shiel is a concert pianist and conductor based in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the recipient of a scholarship to study piano at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where he graduated with first class honours and several academic and performance prizes including: J.S. Bach Competition Prize for Piano, Harpsichord and Organ, Mary and Raymond Thomson Organ Scholarship, and Agnes Millar Prize for Outstanding Harmony and Counterpoint.
He has performed piano solo and duet recitals at venues such as St Giles' Cathedral (Edinburgh), Sage Gateshead (Newcastle) and Unitarernes Hus (Copenhagen, DK) and has been invited to be a guest speaker to the Wagner Society of Scotland and the University of Middlesex. He has performed several concertos with the Abbotsford String Orchestra, Little Biggar Orchestra and the Àirigh Orchestra. He was also entrusted to give the world première of Dr Alfredo Caponnetto's Baroque Concerto (PhD, University of Edinburgh), which the composer kindly dedicated to him.
He is conductor of the Àirigh Orchestra and the Scottish Meditation Orchestra and teaches piano at the University of Edinburgh.
https://matthew-shiel.com/
'Moonlight' (2023) by Emma Yitong Shen
Her artworks are inspired by tonight's musical artist Matthew Shiel and are exhibited onstage as part of our candlelight chapel concert series.
Her artworks, prints and cards are also available for sale during the concert.
https://www.emmayitongshen.com
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
St Vincent's Chapel: Scottish Episcopal Church, St Vincent Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
GBP 7.50 to GBP 29.50