Known for being one of the most exciting orchestras around, Sinfonia Cymru pride themselves on being anything but ordinary. They leave audiences “gobsmacked”, “inspired” and “energised” as their young musicians perform a fusion of classical and contemporary music and sounds, without a conductor in sight!
This February, 15 musicians from Sinfonia Cymru will collaborate with the award-winning electric and acoustic guitarist Sean Shibe to perform ‘Time Machine’, a new and unique experience for Welsh audiences. With an eclectic mix of music, together with music from films such as The Truman Show and There Will be Blood, this performance will explore the unique sounds of the guitar and how it’s likely to sound in the future.
“As an orchestra we’re always pushing boundaries, mixing things up and exploring new ways of providing exciting and unique musical experiences for Welsh audiences. Sean Shibe is an incredible musician, and the combination of his amazing guitar skills combined with our brilliant young musicians and film projection, means that something really special and memorable is on the way for our audiences this February.” - Caroline Tress, Chief Executive at Sinfonia Cymru.
Born and raised in Scotland, Sean Shibe is known as one of the most dynamic and compelling guitarists on the planet. A former BBC New Generation Artist, he has won several high profile awards including the Leonard Bernstein Award in 2022 and the Borletti-Buitoni Award in 2012. Having performed in numerous locations from London to Frankfurt, Sean is very excited about his tour in Wales:
“I’m excited to be teaming up with this brilliant Welsh orchestra and touring our music to Welsh communities this February. Time Machine is a really cool mix of pieces spanning the past and the future. Each piece hums with energy, optimism and magic. I hope audiences will be inspired by the power of the guitar and how it continues to evolve through the ages.”
For this tour, Sean has chosen a programme which includes music by composers living and working in the UK and the USA. From Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood to New York’s Julia Wolfe and Pamela Z, from Laura Snowden to Judd Greenstein, and an intimate solo guitar piece by Waley-Cohen which was premiered in Wales!
As if this wasn’t enough to wow Welsh audiences, these concerts will also host the World Premiere of a new concerto for the guitar by Welsh composer David John Roche, which was co-commissioned by Britten Sinfonia. Known as one of the most energetic, driven and successful young composers in Wales today, Roche's work includes performances and commissions from the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra to the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. A huge fan of Sean Shibe and Sinfonia Cymru, he’s delighted to be involved in this project:
“Sean Shibe is changing the way we engage with the electric guitar. This is absolutely a concerto for Sean. It's a fun, exciting, dramatic, riffy, and expressive work for one of the most outstanding electric guitarists working today. It's also brilliant that this concerto receives its premiere in Wales. Sinfonia Cymru represents some of the best of Welsh music making and embodies some of the most excellent aspects of Welsh music making – I’m massively grateful to them, and this concerto wouldn't be happening without them and Britten Sinfonia.” - David John Roche.
Time Machine with Sean Shibe will kick off on February 23rd at Aberystwyth Arts Centre, before heading north to Criccieth Memorial Hall on the 24th and ending at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff on the 25th.
For details and tickets, visit www.sinfonia.cymru, and to keep up with all the latest news follow @sinfoniacymru on Facebook, Instagram and X.
–ENDS–
For further details, and to arrange interviews, please contact Heulwen Davies, Sinfonia Cymru’s Marketing Consultant, at heulwen@llaiscymru.wales/ 07817 591930.