Lukas Geniušas, Piano

Lukas Geniusas was born July 1st 1990 in Moscow. He started piano studies at 5 at the preparatory department of F. Chopin Music College in Moscow, a school he went on to graduate with top honors in 2008.

Being born into a family of musicians played a major role in Lukas's swift musical development at an early age. His grandmother, Vera Gornostaeva, a prominent teacher and a professor at the Moscow Conservatory, became his first mentor.

Since before his 12th birthday Lukas begins taking part in international competitions and festivals, including: The German Piano Award 2012, Moscow International Chopin Youth Piano Competition 2004 (II Prize); Gina Bachauer Youth Piano Competition in Salt Lake City 2005 (II Prize); Scottish International Piano Competition 2007 (II Prize); 7th Youth Delphic Games Russia, 2008 (Gold Medal); III Piano Competition in San Marino Italy (II Prize); International Piano Competition "Musica della Val Tidone" in Pianello, Italy, 2009 (I Prize); Gina Bachauer International Artists Competition in Salt Lake City, 2010 (I Prize) and the Silver Medal at the 16th Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw in October 2010.

Lukas has appeared with numerous orchestras including the Symphonies of Hamburg and Duisburg in Germany, BBC Scottish Symphony, Kremerata Baltica, Katowice Radio, Warsaw Philharmonic and collaborated with an outstanding musicians of nowadays such as Gidon Kremer, Andrey Boreyko, Saulius Sondeckis, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Antoni Wit, Roman Kofman, Dmitry Liss and others. Lukas has travelled to France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Poland, Lithuania, Japan, South Korea, USA, Germany and has performed in such a prominent events as Duszniki Zdroj, Rheingau, Ruhr and Lockenhaus Music Festivals. 2011/2012 concert season's plan includes appearnaces in Brazil, Canada and Japan, recitals in Italy, France and Switzerland as well as an european tour with Kremerata Baltica string orchestra. Season 2012/2013 will bring Lukas for a tour around Denmark, a debut recital in Milan's Sala Verdi and a return concert's with Utah Symphony in Salt Lake City.

Lukas Geniusas has an extensive repertoire that ranges from Baroque to works of modern composers. At 21 he boasts an impressive ten solo recital programs and twelve works with piano and orchestra. 24 Chopin Etudes, Beethoven's Hammerklavier, Sonata #1 by Brahms, Liszt's B minor sonata, P. Hindemith's "Ludus Tonalis" complete cycle, Tchaikovsky's First Piano concerto, Rachmaninov Concerto #3, Beethoven's Fourth are among his achievements.

Lukas is an avid chamber music performer: taking part in duets, trios, quintets, he's very inquisitive when it comes to new works by modern composers as well as rarely performed repertoire.

Lukas Geniusas has been a recipient of Grants from both Vladimir Spivakov Foundation and Mstislav Rostropovich Foundation, and has been a regular participant of The New Names Foundation Concerts.

Lukas has been awarded federal grants of The Russian Federation "Young Talents" (2005) and "The Gifted Youth of XXI century" (2007).

Music Life Russia, July 2008 - "With Beethoven's “Hammerklavier” Sonata Lukas demonstrated maturity that is rare for his age, highest level of piano technique, precision and clarity of performance, sense of style, energy and deep understanding of the material"

Desert News Salt Lake City, June 2010 — ''Lukas has had big, big success all over, and he's considered one of the most promising young pianists in Europe.''

Jyllandsposten, 7 March 2011 -

«24 Etudes - both Opus 10 and 12 were on the programme, and Lukas Geniusas created a brilliant masterpiece out of every etude. In the short span of time - max. 5 minutes for each etude - he created new colours and new atmospheres.
From incredible wildness to dreamlike beauty. Everything with a perfect technique. To see him carefully shape his fingers in the slow movements and let them loose in teriffic speed in the faster movements was an impressive sight. His touch was either gentle as an angel's or powerful with an adult pianist's authority. The melodies could be heard clearly and with radiant resonance in the full hall.
Second part of the concert was Liszt's immense Piano Sonata in B minor. Geniusas created a drama of the in many ways mysterious sonata. The opening motif sounded dark and dismal. Geniusas attacked the following explosive tones like a lithe cat. He created resonant transitions between the changing atmosperes in the piece. The release came in the last major chords which stood chiseled clearly in the air. Geniusas played three encores.»