Ukraine-born pianist, Yvgeny Ukhanov takes a bow at the opening of the Lucas Parklands new entertainment space on February 27.
THE THUNDERING rain stopped one evening at the end of February to allow a grand opening of the wonderful new music centre at Lucas Parklands in Montville.
Ian and Lee Lucas have made their music venue a dream come true and the opening concert was a stunning sign, if one were needed, that high musical culture on the Hinterland is here to stay.
To celebrate the 200th birthday of Frederick Chopin, Ukraine-born Maestro, Yvgeny Ukhanov played choice Chopin sonatas, at times pairing with cellist, and head of strings at the University of Queensland Gwyn Roberts.
Oliver She, a young Chinese third year music student at UQ astonished the audience of more than 200 keen concert goers with his own mastery of Chopin.
One of the highlights of this stimulating evening’s entertainment was when Gwyn Roberts persuaded Ian Lucas to sit at his beautiful flame mahogany Steinway grand. With Gwyn on cello they improvised around the film theme, The Deerhunter, the haunting piece by Stanley Myers.
Unwilling to let these talented musicians go home, encores were insisted from both Ukhanov and She who delivered blistering performances of Rakmaninov and Lizst.
Looking at his music space filled to capacity simply by word of mouth, Ian Lucas told his audience he now wanted a bigger room. For details of future concerts email: lucasparklands@bigpond.com
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