Work of the Week – Edmund Finnis: Cello Concerto

The British composer Edmund Finnis (b. 1984) is one of the most prominent contemporary voices, whose music is often described as "shimmering" and "glistening". In November 2025, the musical world will focus on California: His Cello Concerto will celebrate its highly anticipated world premiere on November 21, 2025, at the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

Measuring the Light: A New Cello Concerto for Sheku Kanneh-Mason

The approximately 20-minute work is custom-written for the exceptional soloist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who captivates millions with his charismatic cello playing. Kanneh-Mason, who only plays music he "truly, truly believes in", praises Finnis as a "very, very special composer". The premiere will be performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the baton of the dynamic Spanish conductor Roberto González-Monjas.

Finnis, himself a former cellist, describes the work as a deeply personal reflection on "the cello, singing, expression, life". This intimacy is key to the concerto's three-movement architecture, which unfolds like a journey through various states of light.

A Deeply Personal Conversation: Cello, Singing, Life

Movement I: The Shimmering Space The first movement begins with the orchestra creating a wide, "shimmering space" over which the cello weaves long, lyrical lines that steadily intensify. It is the musical measurement of an acoustic play of light, driven by pulsating energy.

Movement II: Nocturnal Lament The central, nocturnal movement is a deeply felt lament. This is the most personal moment: Finnis uses the cello's deep, resonant sounds, which expand and contract "as if slow, deep breaths".

Movement III: Radiant Ecstasy From this silence, the finale erupts into a "flowing, propulsive energy." The cello embraces the forward motion, and the music pours forth unstoppably. The cello's song becomes "radiant, ecstatic," supported by the full orchestra, including richly colored percussion.

Global Relevance and Future Destinations

The importance of the Cello Concerto is highlighted by its unprecedented transatlantic co-commission: Alongside the LA Phil, the Dresden Philharmonic, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO), and the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) support the project.

This ensures the work a place in the international schedule: European Premiere: May 2026 with the Dresden Philharmonic. Australian Premiere: August 2026 with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. UK Premiere: Late 2026 with the LSO.

This global support, coupled with Finnis's new partnership with Schott Music, confirms the British composer's definite rise to the forefront of international contemporary music. The Los Angeles premiere, framed by the "Elgar's Enigma" program, subtly connects Finnis's work with the tradition of British lyricism.

Learn more

• Work Page Cello Concerto

• Event Page Los Angeles Philharmonic

• Composer Profile Edmund Finnis

_{photo Edmund Finnis: Venetia Jollands}