‘Rhapsody in Blue’ - Jazz Sessions by Candlelight

Award-winning pianist-conductor Matthew Shiel leads his acclaimed jazz band on a swinging, toe-tapping odyssey through blues, Berlin cabaret, ragtime and New York jazz piano improv with poignant storytelling – by candlelight. Programme includes Joplin’s The Entertainer, Brubeck’s Take 5, Gershwin’s showstopper Rhapsody in Blue and cabaret music by the Jewish composer Erwin Schulhoff (1894 – 1942) – who for the ‘crime’ of composing jazz was murdered by the Third Reich.

Fringe Classics 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

Take 5

The Entertainer, Maple Leaf Rag, Felicity Rag and Stoptime Rag – Scott Joplin

Blues, Chanson and Charleston (from Cinq Études de Jazz) – Erwin Schulhoff

Rhapsody in Blue – George Gershwin

James Bond Theme - Monty Norman

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.

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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Host or Publisher Matthew Shiel