Konstantin Shamray to perform Beethoven’s Emperor piano concerto with Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra continues its celebration of Beethoven’s 250th birthday with another world-class soloist.
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Beethoven’s 250th birthday plans may have been disrupted by a global pandemic, but that hasn’t stopped the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra from inviting some new guests to the party.
Kontantin Plays Beethoven will be staged at the Festival Theatre on October 16, after the ASO’s recently announced farewell concert by violinist Natsuko Yoshimoto sold out in less than a week.
Russian born Konstantin Shamray, who is now based at Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium, understands the extremes of performing Beethoven’s final piano concerto, nicknamed the “Emperor”.
The composer’s Vienna home, his hearing and his livelihood were under threat as he started writing the concerto in 1809, while Napoleon’s forces attacked the city for a second time.
“The music seems straightforward – however, the difficulty is finding the fine balance between heroic, and poetic, and playful,” Shamray said.
“Beethoven, before anything, was a human, a live soul, and it is all in his music.”
ASO managing director Vincent Ciccarello said it had originally planned to mark the 250th anniversary by performing all nine of Beethoven’s symphonies, but was now using the occasion to celebrate the state’s own world-class soloists.
“We’re thrilled to mark this special occasion with one of our closest friends, Konstantin Shamray and our former principal conductor Nicholas Braithwaite,” he said.
Tickets for Konstantin Plays Beethoven go on sale Wednesday, September 16, at aso.com.au