BY LEAH BLANKENDAAL
Welcome to Con Fuoco – CutCommon’s interview series with emerging musicians across Australia.
Melbourne pianist Laurence Matheson has a long history with the Australian National Academy of Music. From 2005-2008, he took part in ANAM’s young artist program Young ANAM – and during this time he also won the 10 to 12-year-old section of the Yamaha Piano Competition, completed his LMusA, and won the 2010 Dorothy Glover Piano Award.
Laurence’s full-time studies at ANAM took place with Tim Young, which lead to performances with Paavali Jumppanen, Michael Houstoun, the Aurora Ensemble, Peter Hill, Anthony Marwood, Kathy Stott and Lisa Moore. Laurence has played concertos for the Orchestra Victoria’s Mostly Mozart series, ANAM Orchestra, Preston Symphony and South Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
This year, Laurence is an ANAM Fellow with planned concerts throughout Melbourne and interstate. He will perform with MSO and OV later in the year on both piano and celesta and will give a solo recital at the Melbourne Recital Centre. His second fellowship recital is happening tonight at the South Melbourne Town Hall. More information can be found here.
Your all time favourite piece of music?
Probably the Mendelssohn Octet. I find something about the simplicity of the counterpoint and mastery of texture keeps me coming back. I’m also very fond of the Beethoven Symphony No. 7 and Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2.
Most memorable concert experience?
Taking part in a performance of Messiaen’s Visions de l’Amen with visiting pianist Peter Hill at the South Melbourne Town Hall that ended right as the bell chimed 12am on Easter Friday. It was a very special moment!
Biggest fear when performing?
Memory slips! I very rarely perform from memory lately, and when I do I’m always petrified of forgetting something. I wind up spending most of the performance worrying about the possibility of slipping up. My second fear would be, when I do use music, that my iPad might suddenly start updating or disconnect (though it has never failed before!).
The best piece of musical advice you’ve received?
‘Just relax and let it happen’ – from my wonderful teacher Tim Young. It always reminds me to keep things simple.
How do you psych yourself up for practice on a lazy day?
Listening to some of my favourite music or musicians always inspires me, as does being around my colleagues and sharing ideas with them.
Most embarrassing moment on stage or in rehearsal?
During a radio-recorded, two-piano performance in Brisbane, I somehow played the completely wrong final chord (while my partner played the right one). The resultant discordant mess caused a very red face and some discreet sniggering in the audience.
Favourite post-gig activity?
Generally, I just like to head home and enjoy some chocolate before heading to bed. De-briefs and socialising I prefer to leave to another day!
What are you most proud of in your musical career so far?
Probably performing Mozart’s Concerto No. 12 with Orchestra Victoria at the Melbourne Recital Centre. It’s quite an incredible experience to play with an orchestra like that in such a wonderful venue.
What do you love most about making music?
Two things: both the satisfaction of being able to make a listener’s day better, and the fact that music is something meaningful to me that I can go to whenever I want.
What’s your ultimate goal?
Still very much undecided, but I’d like to do a bit of everything – solo, duo, chamber music, large ensembles and teaching. It’s always good to have variety!
If you’re an emerging musician and would like to be featured in CutCommon’s Con Fuoco interview series, give us a shout at editor@cutcommon.com.
Image supplied. Credit: Pia Johnson/ ANAM
