It’s a story of love, loss and creative rebirth straight out of a Hollywood movie, only it’s real life.
A 67-year-old self-taught musician who was homeless and destitute for a decade following the death of his infant son is being hailed as a “genius” for composing a 40-minute symphony recorded by The Philharmonia Orchestra of London.
Stuart Sharp was 32 when his son Ben died of medical complications at birth. He was devastated by the loss, but on the night of his son’s funeral, Sharp had a “vision” of a soothing tune.
“I could see the whole orchestra playing and as I watched I could see all the individual notes being played on the different instruments,” Sharp, who had no musical training whatsoever, told the UK’s Daily Mail.
The musical tune became Sharp’s obsession – he couldn’t get it out of his head – but in the meantime, his marriage fell apart and he descended into alcoholism, eventually ending up broke on the streets of London.
Things started to turn around one day when he met jazz musician Anthony Wade, who offered him a place to stay and helped him transcribe the tune that continued to haunt him. Sharp’s life continued to improve from there, taking unexpected turns. He developed a career in sales and property, eventually becoming a self-made millionaire.
And yet Sharp had more to offer still. He bought a recording studio to realize his dream of recording the tune he’d heard all those years ago. It has since become the “Angell Symphony,” which has stunned the musical community.
“Stuart’s vision for his musical work was remarkable and it’s quite astounding that a non-professional musician has come up with something of this quality,” said Alan Wilson, conductor of The Philharmonia Orchestra (of London), who compared it to performing brain surgery without having gone to medical school.
Now that’s one helluva comeback story!