Born in the Czech Republic in 1986, pianist Lukas Vondracek’s musical ability was spotted when he was only two by his mother, herself a professional pianist. He gave his first concert at the age of four and now, at the age of 19 he has visited 21 different countries giving in excess of 750 concerts.

Mr Vondracek comes back to our shores, after a dazzling recital last year. This time he will be performing Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini opus 43, together with the National Orchestra conducted by Michael Laus at the Manoel Theatre on Tuesday 16 May in a concert to be held jointly by the Manoel Theatre and the National Orchestra. As one of the great piano virtuosos of his day, Rachmaninoff wrote several pieces for his instrument which showed a consummate command of its resources. Such is the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Op. 43, his last work for piano and orchestra. The theme is that of the Paganini Caprice no. 24, faintly suggested in the orchestral introduction, and heard in its entirety in the violins in the first variation.

Twenty-three other variations follow, with contrasting style and moods. The Paganini theme is often transformed with considerable harmonic and rhythmic subtlety, but its identity is rarely lost. A powerful chord for piano and orchestra heralds the end of the work which comes to a brilliant finale with a vigorous recollection of the Paganini subject.

When Vondracek played Rachmaninov’s masterpiece with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marin Aslop in May 2005, the Daily Echo had this to say about his “beguiling performance”: “In this masterpiece every note was touched with sparkling individual clarity; the entire performance was bristling with a mature musicianship of the highest calibre.”

The youngest pianist to have been invited to play in the Queen Elizabeth Hall on London’s South Bank in their prestigious International Piano Series, Vondracek’s performances with orchestra are widely acclaimed – they include appearances with the Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall; a tour in the US with the Czech Philharmonic from Chicago to the Carnegie Hall, again to the baton of Ashkenazy.

In 2004 he made his debut with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in Hanley and Chester, and in the following year, joined the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra conducted by Paavo Jarvi. This year, Vondracek joined the Czech Philharmonic conducted by Walter Weller to inaugurate the Mozart Prague 2006 programme.

The Orchestral Concert at the Manoel will also feature two gems: Smetana’s Blanik – Symphonic Poem from “Ma Vlast” and Brahms’ Symphony no. 3 in F Major.

Reservations may be made from the Manoel Theatre Booking Office, Tel.: 2124-6389, email: [email protected]; website: www.teatrumanoel.com.