Renowned pianist returns to ‘favourite’ Lucas Parklands for concert spectacular

Konstantin Shamray is a professor of piano at the Elder Conservatorium of Music at the University of Adelaide.

by Richard Bruinsma

Russian concert pianist Konstantin Shamray will return to his favourite Queensland performance venue, Lucas Parklands, Montville, for three concerti performances mid-September.

The Siberian-born pianist will present three of his favourite concerti on September 16 and 17, in company with pianist Daniel Le.

Konstantin’s concert repertoire will be 1. Rachmaninov ‘The Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini’; 2. Liszt, ‘Totentanz’ on which he will be joined by pianist Daniel Le who will perform the orchestral reduction.

Daniel Le will be soloist in 3. Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ with Konstantin being associated artist playing orchestral reduction.

“Konstantin is undisputedly Australia’s highest regarded concert pianist, it’s lovely that he has again found time to visit my home and to play for us all. It’s simply fantastic,” Ian Lucas, of Lucas Parklands, said. “He always finds a way to play here once or twice a year, and that’s very flattering.”

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 the double competition Jury 1st place and People’s Choice award, the only pianist to do ever achieve this.

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.”

▶ For tickets and enquiries, please phone 0409 623 228 /07 54785667 Email: lucasparklands@bigpond.com