Russian concert pianist Konstantin Shamray will return to his favourite Queensland performance venue – Lucas Parklands, Montville – performing romantic solo recitals on 11 and 12 August.
It is an opportunity to see a world-class concert pianist up close – with seating just metres from the piano – without having to travel to the major capital cities for such an event.
The performances will include Chopin’s Fantaisie in F minor Op 49, Debussy’s L’isle Joyeuse and Schumann’s Piano Sonata Op 14 No 3, also described as his ‘Concerto without orchestra’.
“Konstantin is Australia’s highest regarded residential concert pianist, that’s undisputed, so it’s lovely that he has again agreed to visit my home and to play for us in Montville. It’s simply fantastic,” Ian Lucas, of Lucas Parklands, said.
“He always finds time to come and play here once or twice a year, and that’s very nice.”
Mr Shamray was born in Siberia and studied in Moscow. In 2008 he came to Australia as a late entrant to the Sydney International Piano Competition, which he won.
After commuting between Moscow and Australia, he eventually settled in Australia and now has residency. He is a professor of piano at the Elder Conservatorium of Music at the University of Adelaide.
Mr Shamray has visited the Sunshine Coast on several occasions, and is among classical musicians from around the world who have become personal friends of Ian and his wife Lee, and enjoy the peaceful bushland surrounds at the Montville auditorium.
“We make them feel welcome,” Mr Lucas explained. “They are part of our family for the three – and sometimes four – days that they’re with us. They join in the family, and by the time they’ve been here for a day, they’re totally relaxed.”
The Lucas Parklands concert auditorium, which is nestled among 30 acres of pristine and undisturbed rainforest near Lake Baroon, Montville, is growing a strong reputation for attracting world class artists and programs. The 150-seat hall features soft lighting and large windows that provide a natural backdrop to an intimate and acoustically brilliant performance space.
“French concert pianist Pascal Rogé, who played at Lucas Parklands twice 12 and 14 years ago, said he believed, for its size, it is one of the two best performance venues in the world,” Mr Lucas said.
“Other performers have commented that they have played in much bigger venues, but they haven’t played in more beautiful places.”
Mr Shamray will also present two piano concertos on September 16 and 17, in company with other performers, where he will perform Mozart’s Concerto No 21 – the most famous of Mozart’s concertos and made more famous for its use in the 1976 Swedish film, Elvira Madigan – and the Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No 2, which is widely described as the greatest piano concerto ever written.
For tickets and enquiries, please phone 0409 623 228 /07 54785667 Email: lucasparklands@bigpond.com
For more information visit lucasparklands.com.au
