Pianist Konstantin Shamray burst onto the international music scene at the Sydney International Piano Competition in 2008 and has gone on to enjoy critical acclaim for performances around the world, so it is always a special treat to hear him in Sydney in recital. Expect to be wowed when he plays a virtuosic program including Bach, Shostakovich and a new commission by award-winning composer Aristea Mellos.
KONSTANTIN SHAMRAY piano
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685–1750) English Suite No. 6 in D minor, BWV 811 (c. 1715–1720)
I Prélude II Allemande III Courante IV Sarabande V Gavotte I VI Gavotte II (Musette) VII Gigue
Aristea MELLOS (b 1987) Ten Bagatelles (2026)*
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906–1975) Selections from 24 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87 (1950–1951) XI B major XII G-sharp minor XVIII F minor XV D-flat major
*World premiere performance. Commissioned for Musica Viva Australia with funds from the Hildegard Project, championing the work of female composers.
Aristea Mellos
Aristea Mellos is a Greek-Australian composer whose compositional voice has been described as ‘unnerving and awe-inspiring' (Limelight). Born on the island of Crete, she received her formative musical training in Sydney.
In 2023, she was awarded the Albert H Maggs Composition Award from the University of Melbourne for her Preludes. Her music is regularly broadcast by ABC Classic, and has been released by Decca, Hyperion Records, ABC Classic, ArtistShare, Xenofone, and Tall Poppies.
Sydney Morning Masters is generously supported by the Wenkart Foundation.
