Past Performances
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!
With the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Peter Barritt decided to organise a weekend of musical events in Shrewsbury to help raise funds for the humanitarian relief fund DEC Ukraine. The Keyboard Charitable Trust kindly put out a message to the young artists it assists, to ask for volunteers to play without charge in support of the victims of war.
Three pianists volunteered their services and a series of recitals in St Alkmunds Church, St Chads Church and Shrewsbury Abbey were performed during April 2022.
Pietro Fresa