Classic FM Chart: Sheku Kanneh-Mason's debut album 'Inspiration' enters the chart at no. 1

4 February 2018, 18:55

18-year-old cello player Sheku Kanneh-Mason is taking the music world by storm as he enters the Classic FM Chart at no. 1 with his debut album Inspiration. He has already become this year’s best-selling British debut artist across all genres, having also made it into the Top 20 in the Official UK Albums Chart. Sheku has also made chart history as the first BBC Young Musician winner to enter the Official UK Albums Chart with a debut recording, as well as the youngest cellist ever to reach the Top 20. He is also the highest-charting BBC Young Musician winner ever. Furthermore, Sheku is the youngest classical artist to break into the Official UK Albums Chart in almost a decade. 

Sheku said: “It has been an amazing experience and I’m very grateful to everyone who’s supported me. I hope the pieces on this album inspire others the way they’ve inspired me.” 

And to top off a remarkable week, Sheku has received a ringing endorsement from the family of his cello hero, Jacqueline du Pré: 

“Jackie would often say, ‘So many cellists can play technically well, but can they make music?’ Sheku makes music. He’s the first cellist since Jackie who has that natural and vibrant abandonment when playing. A sheer delight. Jackie would have loved to meet him.” – Piers and Hilary du Pré

The success of Sheku's debut album pushes André Rieu's Amore down one place to no. 2, however leaves Einaudi's Islands, Fire & Water by Ji Liu, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Lord of the Rings Trilogy all as non-movers. 

John Brunning speaks to Ji Liu about how composers convey the elements in their music

Elsewhere in the chart, Equinox is this week's second largest faller, down nine places from no. 4 to no. 13, while At The Movies is the biggest faller, down ten places. There are no other new entries this week and only four re-entries: Classical Chillout at no. 22, Stephen Hough's latest recording of Debussy at no. 27, Game of Thrones: Season 6 at no. 29 and finally Einaudi's Una Mattina at no. 30.