Past Performances
Daniel played the second recital in the 2022 International Recital Series on Sunday 30th October in St Chads Church, on an afternoon bathed in autumn sunshine. He played two Beethoven Sonatas including the Appassionata with an incredibly difficult Schumann Toccata sandwiched between. The audience was spellbound throughout. He began by playing the rarely played Sonata No. 22, less dramatic than the Appassionata but equally original and perfectly formed. Daniel's performance of the Appassionata was full of passion, confidence and understanding of the turbulent period in Beethoven's life when it was composed. I don't believe we will ever hear a better performance of the work
Nikita Lukinov returned to Shrewsbury to play in the Alington Hall in Shrewsbury School on Sunday 25th September 2022, in the first collaboration with Shropshire Music Trust. Nikita began his recital on the Steinway grand piano by playing the demanding Symphonic Etudes Op.13 composed by Robert Schumann. Nikita has a superb technique and a ravishing sound but pays close attention to the composer's instructions. This work is difficult because of tricky syncopations and cross rhythms but Nikita managed to keep the main themes singing clearly through the heavy chordal accompaniment.
Our local music critic Andrew Petch to described his recital...
Dinara Klinton - July 2022
Dinara Klinton is a famous Ukranian soloist, as well as a Professor at the Royal College of Music in London and the Yehudi Menuhin School. As a Ukrainian, she was disappointed not to be able to make the Shrewsbury Helps Ukraine weekend, so a recital was organised shortly after at Shrewsbury Abbey (pictured). She gave a peerless performance of Beethoven's last piano sonata, followed by one of Prokofiev's War Sonatas written during World War Two, his Sonata No.8 Op.84. She concluded with an emotional tribute to the suffering of her homeland by playing Rachmaninov's Vocalise Op.34. This was a recital to be treasured, full of melodies and passionate emotion. A masterclass in performance.
Nikita Lukinov is probably the most talented young Russian pianist of his generation. Now aged 23, he studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow. He played for us in 2022 at St Alkmunds church.
The Kawai baby grand at this church does not really do justice to the world-class quality of pianists that Shrewsbury audiences can attract. Nonetheless, the sound coming out of that tiny piano was both astounding and divine. Nikita played Tchaikovsky, 8 pieces from op.72, Scriabin, Valse op.38 and finished with Prokofiev, ‘6 pieces from Cinderella’ op.102.
The Shrewsbury audience adored this recital and warmed to Nikita's kind nature and his passionate perfomance. Such was the rapturous response from the audience that Nikita has been invited back this autumn!