'GRESFORD OPERA' CONDUCTOR TO JOIN RISING STAR SOLOIST FOR CATHEDRAL CONCERT

A renowned conductor from Wrexham is set to join a rising young star from the classical music world for a spectacular concert at Chester Cathedral.

Conductor Robert Guy, best known for the community opera 'Gresford: Up From Underground', will be joined by acclaimed cellist Mariatu Kanneh-Mason for the concert which will be staged by Chester Philharmonic Orchestra at the Cathedral on Saturday 28th February at 7.30pm.

The concert will feature Mariatu Kanneh-Mason performing one of the most celebrated and moving works in the cello repertoire, Sir Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto. Written in the aftermath of the First World War, the Concerto, often regarded as Elgar's musical farewell, is described as being filled with longing, dignity and introspection rather than celebration.

Chester Philharmonic Orchestra will also feature the Overture to the opera 'Der Freischütz' by Carl Maria von Weber which received its premiere in 1821 at the Royal Playhouse in Berlin, and Beethoven's celebrated Symphony No.3 - Eroica which broke boundaries in its symphonic form, length, harmony, emotional and cultural content. It is widely considered a landmark in the transition between the Classical and the Romantic era.

An internationally acclaimed conductor, Robert Guy was born with severe hearing loss and didn’t hear birdsong until after a life-changing operation as a child. Now, he transforms that early silence into powerful, electrifying performances. From his early days as a professional freelance viola player working with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera North and the Allegri String Quartet, to standing on the podium with world-class ensembles, he has built a career defined by bold leadership, relentless energy, and a belief that music can transform lives. Robert has conducted concert broadcasts for Classic FM and the BBC, and has led orchestras and choirs from London's West End to Hong Kong, Austria and Kazakhstan. Robert has worked with orchestras such as the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the Kosovo Philharmonic, and the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong. 

Robert is Principal Conductor of the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Co-Founder of NEW Sinfonia in North Wales and a keen advocate for new music, as demonstrated in the acclaimed ‘Gresford: Up From Underground’ - the community opera composed by his brother Jon Guy to mark the 90^th anniversary of the Gresford disaster. The opera, which will be performed across Wales later this year, continues to engage thousands and honour Welsh heritage in a groundbreaking way.

Joining Chester Philharmonic Orchestra as guest soloist, Mariatu Kanneh-Mason is sixteen years old and attends Trinity Catholic School in Nottingham. She studies cello and piano at the Junior Royal Academy of Music. At age 10, she gained Grade 8 distinction on cello and has a piano diploma distinction (ARSM). Mariatu has performed with her family, the Kanneh-Masons in a series of concerts around the UK, Europe, Australia, USA, Canada and in Antigua and Barbuda. With the Kanneh-Masons, Mariatu performed at The Royal Albert Hall for the 2021 BBC Proms, and with her siblings for the then Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall in March 2017. 

In addition to her numerous performances on the concert platform, Mariatu has appeared on several television and radio programmes including BBC World Service, Channel 4, BBC 1 The One Show and the BBC4 documentary, Young, Gifted and Classical,  The Royal Variety Performance (ITV), Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1), The BBC Proms (BBC2 and BBC4), and the Imagine documentary for BBC1, This House is Full of Music. She also featured in Christmas With the Kanneh-Masons (BBC1) and The Hills Are Alive With the Kanneh-Masons for BBC2.

Speaking about the concert, Diana Anderson, the Chair of Chester Philharmonic said:

"We are very much looking forward to working with acclaimed conductor Robert Guy who brings a wealth of experience as an internationally renowned conductor. We are also delighted to welcome Mariatu Kanneh-Mason as our soloist. One of the most compelling cellists of her generation, Mariatu is celebrated for her rich tone, sensitivity and expressive storytelling. She has performed on stages across the UK and internationally, and her interpretations are praised for their warmth, insight and emotional clarity — qualities perfectly suited to Elgar’s deeply moving and iconic masterpiece."

Full details of Chester Philharmonic Orchestra's concert at Chester Cathedral can be found at: 

www.chesterphilorchestra.co.uk 

...where tickets can be booked online.

Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Chester Cathedral Box Office.