Sean Shibe & Karim Sulayman

In Broken Branches, tenor Karim Sulayman and guitarist Sean Shibe take you on a musical journey across East and West, tradition and diaspora. Their program includes music by Dowland, Britten, and Monteverdi, interwoven with traditional songs from the Middle East. Together, they tell a story of shared history and intertwined identities.

Both musicians draw from their personal backgrounds: raised in the West, yet deeply rooted in the East – Sulayman in Lebanon, Shibe in Japan. From that perspective, they explore how music and identity can merge, unravel, and take on new form.

Broken Branches blends classical and traditional music in an intimate and deeply personal setting. A moving and expressive evening, where music reveals the many ways in which culture and heritage are connected – sometimes fragile, sometimes powerful, but always deeply human.

Sean Shibe
Shibe is widely recognized as one of the most innovative guitarists of his generation. Equally at home on classical and electric guitar, he explores a broad spectrum of repertoire—from early music to contemporary experiments. His playing is known for its expressive depth, technical brilliance, and strong artistic identity. A recipient of the Leonard Bernstein Award and a Gramophone Award, Shibe has performed at major concert halls around the world.

Karim Sulayman
Sulayman is a Lebanese-American tenor known for his distinctive blend of vocal refinement, intellectual depth, and social engagement. His career spans opera, oratorio, chamber music, and groundbreaking interdisciplinary projects. He is celebrated for his narrative approach to programming and his ability to communicate a clear artistic message through every performance. In 2019, he won a Grammy Award and has collaborated with leading ensembles and creators around the globe.