Young classical musicians Sam Lucas and Berta Brozgul have again wowed audiences through their energetic, complex and emotional performances at the Lucas Parklands ‘Long Weekend of Music’.

The young stars – Sam, a former Montville schoolboy who is today a world renown cellist, and Berta, a rising piano maestro – have played together previously, and again shared a noticeable synchronicity as they performed some wonderful but incredibly difficult pieces together.

“Every time I come back to Australia, especially home, it’s an emotional experience,” Sam said of the weekend recitals.

“When I was growing up, I started learning cello here in this property and in this hall; so, that first note, in the first piece, in the first concert back, it’s always quite deep for me emotionally.”

The performances were extra emotional after Ian Lucas, who owns the property with his wife Lee, announced quietly that the beautiful 27-acre bushland venue, with its private performance auditorium, is on the market - after 17 years of bringing world class classical musician here to perform for audiences locally.

“It’s been seven days a week for 17 years,” Ian said of his and Lee’s commitment to the concerts and their cabins.

“It’s been a lovely house to live in and a lovely community, but at some point, you’ve got to say, ‘Honey, you need a rest’.

“I hope the future owners of Lucas Parklands runs it in a similar way, to present beautiful music to those who wish to hear it.”

Sam and Berta presented three very different musical programs at the ‘Long Weekend of Music’, including duets and solos of works by composers Bach, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Hindemith, Schumann, Grieg and more.

“With such a big program, you go through many stages, but you keep discovering yourself and rediscovering each other, and just playing with Sam it just gets better and better and better, and the audiences here are incredible, and so appreciative,” Berta explained.

“There was also something emotional from hearing that it might be the last time, and I felt emotional in that way as well and realised how much I love it here.”

More music to come

The ‘Long Weekend of Music’  performances kick-started what may well be one of the most impressive calendars of any intimate classical music venue in Australia. In June, Lucas Parklands will host world famous piano maestro Piers Lane AO; in July, Italian pianist Ida Pelliccioli and New Zealand violinist Amalia Hall; in September, cellist Sam Lucas will return, to be accompanied by Lithuanian pianist Pauleus Andersson and Australian pianist Daniel Le. Russian-born piano maestro Konstantin Shamray will also perform at Lucas Parklands in 2024, on a date to be confirmed.

• For more information and ticketing enquiries, phone 5478 5667 or 0409 623 228 or lucasparklands.com.au.