The Karim Sulayman and Sean Shibe recital, titled Broken Branches, offered a joyful and world-spanning performance that captivated the audience at the concert hall. This review explores the highlights of their recent show, blending English, Japanese, Scottish, Lebanese, and American musical traditions into a seamless evening of song and guitar.
Broken Branches: A Program of Global Heritage
The program took its name from a poem by Sinan Antoon about an Iraqi refugee in New York, set to music by Layale Chaker in 2022. It opened with Li Beirut, a powerful lament for the Lebanese capital, but quickly shifted toward joy. The duo’s chemistry was palpable, with Sulayman and Shibe seated side by side, creating an intimate, equal-level dialogue.
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Highlights from Purcell to Dowland
Purcell’s Music for a While set the scene, merging into works by his well-traveled compatriot Dowland. In a trio of eastward-looking Italian Renaissance madrigals, Monteverdi’s melancholy found Sulayman holding high notes that would not have sounded out of place in Italian opera three centuries later. La Mia Turca had him boo-hooing down melodic lines, making the rejected suitor the butt of the joke.
World Music and Guitar Solos
A quietly intense Sephardic love song gave way to an Arab-Andalusian guitar piece, leading into El Helwa Di, a gleeful Egyptian number with Sulayman whooping into falsetto. Shibe’s solos included Jonathan Harvey’s 1997 Sufi Dance, a beguiling, half-remembered impression where the guitar’s top string was retuned to recapture the sound of an unfamiliar instrument.
| Piece | Composer | Emotion |
|---|---|---|
| Music for a While | Purcell | Serene |
| La Mia Turca | Monteverdi | Humorous |
| El Helwa Di | Traditional Egyptian | Joyful |
| Sufi Dance | Jonathan Harvey | Beguiling |
Key Takeaways from the Performance
- The duo’s chemistry created an intimate, spontaneous atmosphere.
- Program spanned multiple cultures, from English to Egyptian traditions.
- Sulayman’s vocal range impressed in Monteverdi and Egyptian numbers.
- Shibe’s guitar solos, especially Sufi Dance, were standout moments.
- Only Britten’s Songs from the Chinese felt self-conscious.
FAQ
What is the Broken Branches recital about?
Broken Branches is a recital program by tenor Karim Sulayman and guitarist Sean Shibe that explores global heritage through music, including English, Japanese, Scottish, Lebanese, and American traditions.
Who performed in this concert review?
The review covers a performance by tenor Karim Sulayman and guitarist Sean Shibe, who presented their Broken Branches program.
What were the standout pieces in the recital?
Standout pieces included Purcell’s Music for a While, Monteverdi’s La Mia Turca, the Egyptian number El Helwa Di, and Jonathan Harvey’s Sufi Dance.
Overall, the Karim Sulayman and Sean Shibe recital was a joyful, world-spanning evening that left the audience beguiled. For more classical music reviews, explore our celebrity and arts coverage at GrandGoldman.com.
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