Debussy’s Romantic Piano by Candlelight – ‘Clair de Lune’

About

Following their five star and sold-out show in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe,

"Matthew Shiel has ‘composed’ a most enchanting concert, relating amusing, enlightening stories to introduce each piece; his eloquent performance expresses a dramatic, emotional mood from sad and sorrowful to light-hearted and lyrical, oozing a joyful sense of romantic love." (★★★★★ Edinburgh Guide)

"A ripping good yarn. Sim and Shiel both are masters of their crafts." (★★★★★ Binge Fringe Magazine)

"Matthew Shiel shone" (★★★★ Three Weeks)

Moonlight Concerts tour Brighton with a musical show inspired by the most romantic piano pieces ever composed and the mysterious masked balls of Venice.

Tonight, we join acclaimed concert pianist and storyteller Matthew Shiel for a romantic tour of the piano as he exposes the secret love affairs of the great composer’s hearts that have shaped the history of classical music including: Chopin’s scandalous elopement with the French author George Sand and Brahms’ secret affair with his best friend’s wife, Clara Schumann.

Tonight’s musical programme includes several of the most romantic piano pieces ever composed: Liszt’s Liebestraum, Schubert’s Serenade, Chopin’s Raindrop Prelude and Debussy’s Clair de Lune – performed by intimate candlelight.

This concert will also feature a new romantic piece composed specially for tonight's artist by Matthew's Italian friend and composer Dr Alfredo Caponnetto – Notturno VI alongside a digital art exhibition and light installation designed by acclaimed Chinese artist and Disney illustrator Emma Yitong Shen – to create an immersive musical experience designed to fill you with romantic inspiration and open your heart to live and to love.

PROGRAMME

Liebestraum No.3 – Franz Liszt

Novelette in E minor (after El amor brujo of Manuel de Falla) – Francis Poulenc

Minuet in G (from Anna Magdalena Notebook of 1725) – Johann Sebastian Bach

Barcarolle (from The Seasons Op. 37b) – Pyotr Tchaikovsky

Intermezzo in A (Op.118, No. 2) – Johannes Brahms

Lea-Rigg – Robert Burns (arranged for piano by Alexander Reinagle)

Notturno VI – Alfredo Caponnetto

‘Raindrop’ Prelude in D-flat major (Op.28 No.15) – Frédéric Chopin

Nocturne in F minor (Op.55 No.1) – Frédéric Chopin

Clair de Lune (from Suite Bergamasque) – Claude Debussy

Variations on a Theme of Robert Schumann (Op. 20) – Clara Schumann