Stefan Cassomenos - Piano Recital
Melbourne pianist and composer Stefan Cassomenos is one of Australia’s most vibrant and versatile musicians. He has been performing internationally since the age of ten, and is now established as one of Australia’s leading pianists.
He gave the world premiere of his own Piano Concerto No.1 with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra at the age of 16. He has performed as soloist with the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn, Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, and Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, and has given solo recitals at many international venues and festivals, including Tonhalle Zurich, Gewandhaus Leipzig, Beethoven Festival Bonn, Sydney Opera House, Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre, Bunkamura Orchard Hall Tokyo, and Junge Stars der Klassik Kirchheimbolanden. Cassomenos now performs regularly in Australia, Germany and the UK. Cassomenos’ compositions are commissioned and performed in Australia and overseas. He is a founding member of chamber ensemble PLEXUS, which since launching in 2014 has commissioned and premiered over 110 new works.
Heritage is a program of music inspired by the rich musical heritage of Europe. American composer Caroline Shaw’s Gustave Le Gray unearths a multilayered portrayal of Chopin’s quintessentially Polish Mazurka Op.17 No.4; Australian composer Anne Cawrse’s Studies in Odd Times pays homage to Béla Bartok’s dances in Bulgarian rhythm; Bartók gathers and reimagines themes from his homeland Hungary and from neighbouring Transylvania; and Cassomenos’ own Piano Sonata No.1, commissioned by and premiered at the 2020 Festival Neue Musik Rockenhausen, receives its Australian premiere.
HERITAGE
Caroline Shaw Gustave Le Gray
Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin Mazurka, Op.17 No.4
Béla Bartók Three Hungarian Folktunes from the Csík District
Anne Cawrse Studies in Odd Times
Béla Bartók Sonatina on Themes from Transylvania
Stefan Cassomenos Piano Sonata No.1*
*Australian premiere
Feedback/Comments
Amazing pianist
Stefan's technique was great and we discovered new composers. Thoroughly enjoyed our night
Being the 1st piano recital I attended where I had not previously heard the pieces before, I had no pre-conceptions of how the music "should" be played.
This allowed Stefan to fill my consciousness with his interpretations of the pieces he picked. His introductions to the blocks of music were appreciated, giving me a glimpe of what was to come; whetting my appetite. The selection of music was not what I would have picked, but Stefan has widened my appreciation. The piano was centrally positioned. I had a great view of the keyboard, which Stefan caressed, attacked and pummelled to great effect. His body language, facial expressions and hand and finger movements were a huge part of the show for me. I could not help but feel a little sorry for those people seated where they could only hear the music, not watch its creation. For me, a piano recital is more than listening to the music. This I can do at home. This is especially true of lesser known works. A trade-off between the positioning of the piano for the best sound or the best view of the keyboard should favour the visuals. The accoustics of the venue would have ensured that a less than perfect piano position would still have allowed a wonderful sound experience. Otherwise, future recitals will involve patrons rushing for the best seats in the house. I enjoyed the perforfance and would recommend it.