WITH so much attention being given to the Olympics, it is worth noting that Adelaide is not only the home of a new gold medallist but also of a pianist whose achievements are in the same league — Konstantin Shamray.
At the peak of the classical music profession, artists need both the physical stamina and mental discipline of athletes, along with the intellectual capacity of a mathematician.
In performing Beethoven’s massive Hammerklavier Sonata, Shamray did the equivalent of running a marathon while solving difficult problems of differential calculus.
It’s an extreme test of concentration, endurance, imagination and intellect.
There was much beauty in this performance, but there was also tremendous power and robust strength.
It’s impossible to make it all sound “nice” — especially the fugue — and to Shamray’s credit, he didn’t try, letting instead the raw energy of the music speak for itself.
In contrast, the slow movement was a soulful lament exquisitely and heart-renderingly sung at the keyboard.
There was interest throughout the performance as Shamray picked out voices that are often lost and put his individual stamp on phrases, all the while preserving a profound sense of the long arch of this vast work.
This was definitely a gold medal performance.
Konstantin Shamray, piano