With a plethora of talented and acclaimed musicians set to perform at the 2022 Festival, we recently caught up with Polish pianist, Lucas Krupinski.

Born in Warsaw, Poland in 1992, Lucas is now based in London and has been recognised for his talent through a number of accolades, including being named the winner of the 7th San Marino International Piano Competition and all of its contest prizes – the Audience Award, the Music Critics’ Award and the Orchestra Award.

Tell us a bit about your upbringing in Poland and what Polish music means to you, particularly while you were growing up.
I started my music education when I was five. Whilst attending my first piano lessons, I quickly realised my fascination for music in general, especially the Polish music, through my early passion for Chopin’s oeuvre. Music language has always been my preferred way of communication, a universe where I immediately felt understood and free, that’s probably the reason why I learnt notes before letters.

Why did you leave Poland?
After 25 years of living in Poland, I felt I reached a point in my life, where I needed to experience something new and explore different cultural influences. Moving to London to continue my piano studies at the Royal College of Music transformed my perspective on life and art, consequently enriching my musical horizons.

How did your connection with Australia come about?
I have visited Australia on a few occasions in the last years before the pandemic, having performed in Canberra, Sydney and other locations. Coming to Australia always feels very special, I find the Australians to be extremely friendly and welcoming and it is definitely one of my favourite places in the world. I was very lucky to have made some wonderful friends here and always felt privileged to perform in this country.

Why do you think Chopin is still relevant in 2022?
I think that Chopin’s music is universal and always will be. It is loved by all the nations around the world and appreciated by audiences eager to listen to the same pieces performed by different artists.

The relevance of any composer’s music shouldn’t be dictated and restricted by their historical period, but rather by the capacity to still have a grip on people’s feelings after centuries. Chopin’s music touches my emotional core in the most intense way, therefore his relevance is surely very personal but couldn’t be more sincere.

What are your plans for the future?
After long months of the covid pandemic, concerts are yet again becoming a part of our daily lives, which brings hope both for the artists and audiences craving to experience live music again. In the next months, I will perform recitals in Belgium, UK, Poland and Spain. I am very excited about playing A. Scriabin’s Piano Concerto in Warsaw Philharmonic with the leading Polish orchestra Sinfonia Varsovia and Maestro Robert Treviño in April this year.