Russian pianist Konstantin Shamray again captivated his audiences, with explosive yet very emotive and personal performances at the intimate Lucas Parklands auditorium.
Shamray’s program included Liszt’s Dante Sonata, works by Rachmaninoff and Ravel and, as a surprise, his encore Clair de Lune was performed in a darkened room with a candle representing the light of a full moon.
“It was intense, but good intense; it was a real pleasure to perform here again,” Shamray said of his weekend Montville concerts.
“Thank you to the Sunshine Coast for hosting me, and thanks to the audience members who love music and support us.”
World-class artists like Konstantin are helping Lucas Parklands’ owner Ian Lucas realise his life’s ambition of a world that simply “returns to music”.
Lucas Parklands has been a well-kept secret; however, it is emerging as a premier concert venue in Australia after the disruptions of Covid-19.
The venue seats just 150, giving attendees an unrivalled intimate and personal music experience.
“We are lucky in Australia that we can perform; many of my musician friends are struggling as their performances are cancelled. Here we are blessed, really blessed,” Shamray said.
“On behalf of all artists, we are grateful to share our music again, even more so than before Covid, which made everyone understand something: how important it is to be able to come together and simply enjoy music performed live.”
Shamray has visited the Sunshine Coast on several occasions, always staying at Lucas Parklands, which is nestled among 30 acres of pristine and undisturbed rainforest near Lake Baroon.
“Lucas Parklands is a smaller venue, perfectly situated, with brilliant acoustics and a very pleasant place to play,” he said.
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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.
Shamray’s performances were the first in the Lucas Parklands’ 2021 ‘Keep the Music Going’ concert series, dedicated to the continuance of live classical performances that could otherwise fade away due to the uncertainties of the pandemic.
London-based Piers Lane AO, one of Australia’s most successful and dynamic classical musicians, will perform two concerts on May 29 and 30.
For inquiries and tickets, please phone 0409623228, 07 54785667 or email: lucasparklands@bigpond.com
For more, see Lucas Parklands website: http://lucasparklands.com.au/
