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

Following their ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and sold-out show in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024,

"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.

Chopin’s scandalous elopement with the French author George Sand; Brahms’ secret affair with his best friend’s wife; Scottish widows and the masked balls of Venice meet for a romantic tour of the piano as acclaimed concert pianist and master storyteller Matthew Shiel exposes the hidden trysts, scandals and love affairs of the great composer’s hearts that have shaped the history of classical music from the 18th Century to the modern day.

Tonight’s musical programme includes several of the most romantic piano pieces ever composed: Liszt’s Liebestraum, Wagner’s Liebestod, Chopin’s Raindrop Prelude and Debussy’s Clair de Lune – performed by intimate candlelight. This concert will also feature a new romance composed specially for tonight's artist by Matthew's Italian friend and composer Dr Alfredo Caponnetto – Notturno VI alongside a digital art exhibition and lightshow designed by acclaimed Chinese artist and Disney illustrator Emma Yitong Shen – to create an immersive musical experience designed to wind you down, find romantic inspiration and open your heart to live and to love.

PROGRAMME

Liebestraum No.3 – Franz Liszt

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

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

Liebestod (from Tristan and Isolde) - Richard Wagner (arranged for piano by Franz Liszt)

Clair de Lune (from Suite Bergamasque) – Claude Debussy

Matthew Shiel

Matthew Shiel is a British pianist who performs 200+ performances every year across UK, USA and Australia in partnership with the Edinburgh, Brighton, Adelaide, Melbourne and Hollywood Fringe Festivals.

In 2025, Matthew Shiel made history by performing the world’s first piano recital of music composed by artificial intelligence at the Edinburgh Festival; his performance was subsequently commissioned by Dame Wendy Hall’s Web Science Institute (University of Southampton) and broadcast on Al Jazeera.

He has notably performed at Usher Hall and The National Portrait Gallery of Scotland (Edinburgh), The Glasshouse International Centre for Music (Newcastle), Glasgow City Halls and has performed with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (broadcast on BBC Radio 3) and The Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marine Band Scotland.

Matthew has received multiple 5-star reviews in the press:

“a most enchanting concert” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Edinburgh Guide

“masters of their crafts” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Binge Fringe

“profound” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Corr Blimey

Matthew is an Usher Hall and Live Music Now Scotland artist, artistic director of Fringe Classics and a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Emma Yitong Shen

Emma Shen is a Chinese visual artist currently resident in Edinburgh, Scotland. She has collaborated with Disney, BBDO, FCB, Ogilvy and her illustrations, installations and paintings are exhibited internationally. Emma aims to capture the essence of emotions and imagination on canvases. Utilizing both traditional and digital tools, she uses luminescent colors, creative composition to unveil unique perspectives on the ordinary. Emma's illustrations, installations, and paintings are regularly showcased in exhibitions and commercial events internationally. Her work is a testament to the boundless possibilities of imagination and the ability to transform the mundane into captivating visual narratives.

Fringe Classics

Fringe Classics is an international performing arts company that exports classical music to fringe festivals around the world. We organise 200+ performances every year across UK, USA and Australia in partnership with the Edinburgh, Brighton (UK), Adelaide, Melbourne (Australia) and Hollywood (USA) Fringe Festivals. We also creatively adapt classical concerts for festive occasions including Burns Night, Valentine’s Day, Halloween and Christmas.

Our performances have been broadcast on Al Jazeera; have been commissioned by Dame Wendy Hall’s Web Science Institute (in association with the University of Southampton) and have received multiple 5-star reviews in the press:

“a most enchanting concert”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Edinburgh Guide

“masters of their crafts”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Binge Fringe

“profound”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Corr Blimey

We embrace the unbridled creativity and experimental aesthetic of fringe festivals. We embrace communication between classical music and other musical genres including jazz, folk and pop. And we embrace interdisciplinary collaboration with storytellers, visual artists, dancers, filmmakers and even computer scientists to push the boundaries of what a classical concert can be and create the 'performance of the future.'  

In 2025, Fringe Classics made history by performing the world’s first piano recital of music composed by artificial intelligence at the Edinburgh Festival and this historic event was broadcast on Al Jazeera.

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