Kristian Chong and Friends

World renowned pianist Kristian Chong is performing once again for the second concert of ‘Kristian Chong and Friends’ at the Melbourne Recital Centre.  

The concert is part of the 2015 Local Heroes project and is specifically a tribute to ANZAC Lieutenant Robert Grieve VC.  

The program is a collaboration of some of Australia’s finest musicians, including internationally acclaimed cellist Li-Wei Qin and violinist Adam Chalabi.  

The musicians will be presenting the rarely heard La Foila for solo cello by Giovanni Sollima, Beethoven’s inspired sonata for piano and cello Opus 69 and Brahms’ Piano Trio Opus 8.

Australian-born and raised Chong, who has performed on a global scale in countries such as UK, USA, Taiwan and Africa, says La Foila is played “with a personal take” but “also respecting the composer”.  Mr Chong also says that he is happy to be playing the piece in Melbourne.

“The Melbourne Recital Centre is a new building that was put up around seven or eight years ago and has one of the best acoustics in the world,” he said.

Mr Chong, who currently teaches piano and chamber music at the University of Melbourne, said he was inspired by “communicating a story” to the audience and performing the well-written pieces to the best of his ability.

“Music is like a movie or a film, or a story your grandmother tells you.  It’s got to have a logical start, a drama,” he said.  

For more, visit melbournerecital.com.au