Music / Lukáš Vondráček, piano. At Snow Concert Hall, Red Hill, September 2. Reviewed by LEN POWER.

Lukáš Vondráček made his first public appearance at the age of four and debuted with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in 2002 when he was 15. 

After finishing his studies at the Academy of Music and the Vienna conservatoire, he obtained an artist diploma from Boston’s New England Conservatory, graduating with honours in 2012.

He was the winner in 2016 of the most reputable piano competition in the world – The Queen Elizabeth Piano Competition. Since then, he has enjoyed an extensive international career giving recitals and working with the major orchestras and conductors in the world.

His Snow Concert Hall recital began with Seven Fantasias, Op. 116 by Johannes Brahms. The precision and depth of feeling in his playing was immediately apparent with these pieces, some dreamy, some wildly passionate.

Next was Fantasie in B minor, Op. 28 by the Russian composer, Alexander Scriabin. This demanding work was an excellent showcase for Vondráček, who gave it all the colour and emotion needed. His playing of the stormy passages was breathtaking and the quieter passages were given a notable sensitivity.

After the interval, Vondráček presented two works by Robert Schumann. In a short but warm address to the audience, he advised that Schumann was probably his favourite composer as his work was so true to life.

He then played Schumann’s Kreisleriana, Op. 16 with its alternately dramatic and melodic movements. It was awesome seeing Vondráček’s ability to change moods so suddenly, his playing giving the work a freshness and deeper meaning.

The final work was Schumann’s Arabesque in C major, Op. 18. Vondráček’s playing of this contemplative and beautiful work was a perfect end to a superb recital that showed why he is considered one of the major pianists of today.