Maestro, This is Your Life!

'Matthew Shiel shone' (⭐⭐⭐⭐ThisWeekCulture.com).

'A wonderful new Scottish crime fiction voice' (Laura Marney).

Tune-in for a mockumentary edition of This Is Your Life as our imposter Michael Aspel interviews Ludwig van Beethoven. Features live performances from the maestro including Moonlight Sonata. Acclaimed novelist Alastair Sim and award-winning pianist Matthew Shiel take us on an unforgettable journey through his impoverished childhood, his hearing loss and depression, his love affairs and his international recognition and fame. A fascinating mix of acting, biographical documentary and live music-making brings the maestro’s life – to life!

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.

Matthew has performed at venues including: National Portrait Gallery of Scotland (Edinburgh), Unitarernes Hus (Copenhagen), The Glasshouse International Centre for Music (Newcastle), Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (Glasgow) and St Giles' Cathedral (Edinburgh) and has been invited to be a guest speaker to the Wagner Society of Scotland and the University of Middlesex.

Matthew has performed several piano concertos with the Scottish Meditation Orchestra (Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 23 in A, K. 488), Àirigh Orchestra (Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No.2, Op.18 and Koželuch - Concerto for Piano Duet in B-flat major, P.IV:8), Abbotsford String Orchestra (Bach - Keyboard Concerto in D Minor, BWV 1052 and Mozart - Piano Concerto in D minor, K.466), Little Biggar Orchestra (Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-flat major, K. 595). Matthew was also entrusted to give the world première of Dr Alfredo Caponnetto's Baroque Concerto - which the composer kindly dedicated to Matthew. Matthew has also performed with The Band of His Majesty's Royal Marines Scotland.

Matthew is chief conductor of the Scottish Meditation Orchestra and the The Orchestra of the Scottish Enlightenment and he teaches piano at the University of Edinburgh. Matthew is currently a Live Music Now artist, a charity and young artists scheme founded by Sir Yehudi Menuhin; it encourages gifted young musicians to perform to those who are unable to access live music such as those living with dementia, hospital patients receiving cancer care or children with additional support needs.

https://matthew-shiel.com/

Tonight's Storyteller: Alastair Sim

Alastair Sim is an author, performer and history/ ghost tour guide. Along with short stories and play scripts he has had two novels published. Rosslyn Blood is a comedy thriller set around the mysteries of Rosslyn Chapel. The Unbelievers is a Victorian detective novel-of-ideas set in Edinburgh and the Highlands. Alastair also leads tours of Edinburgh’s underground vaults and Greyfriars Kirkyard, during which guests frequently report paranormal experiences.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

St Vincent's Chapel: Scottish Episcopal Church, St Vincent Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom