by Martin Brisland.
London-based Georgian pianist Luka Okros made a triumphant return to Turner Sims last night (February 2with this first class recital.
The recital started with Mozart’s Piano Sonata No 8 in A minor, K310 written in 1788. An interesting piece in that Mozart rarely wrote in a minor key which makes the music sound sad and wistful. He composed this sonata after the death of his mother.
This was followed by one of the best known pieces in the classical repertoire, Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No 8 in C minor, Opus 13. Written in 1799 it is nicknamed the Pathétique due to the strong emotions it conveys.
Lastly was Robert Schumann’s Fantasie in C Major Op 17 written in 1836. His intention was to raise funds from this piece for a statue in Bonn to Beethoven which happened in 1845.
Luka Okros played with real passion and supreme technical skill in this performance. You can tell he is really feeling the music when he plays. Everything is from memory and you sense he has really got inside these pieces. Luka holds his audience and draws you in as you experience him immersing himself in the music.
Luka is blessed with long fingers which are put to magical effect with his runs up and down the Steinway grand piano.
The recital received an excellent response from the audience. So much so that he played two short encores.
After the performance he was available to meet with audience members in the lobby at Turner Sims and interact with them. A long queue showed how keen they were to meet him.
If Luka Okros returns to Turner Sims I will definitely be in the audience.
The Turner Sims concert hall was opened in 1974 and seats 350. Situated on the University of Southampton campus it is rightly renowned for the quality of its acoustics. This makes it an ideal venue to hear its wide ranging programme of classical, jazz, roots and world music. If you attend one of its concerts you are in for a treat in this delightful venue.
You can find more information about Luka on his official website lukaokros.com or Instagram page www.instagram.com/lukaokros
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