The Chamber Music Society of Colombo (CMSC) announced a distinguished piano recital by the internationally celebrated pianist and musicologist Dr. Karl Lutchmayer. The performance will be held on Sunday, 11 October, at 7 p.m. at the Goethe-Institut Hall, Colombo.
In addition to the recital, Dr. Lutchmayer will conduct a masterclass for advanced pianists on Saturday, 10 October, offering a rare opportunity for serious students and emerging professionals to engage directly with an artist of global stature.
Commenting on the upcoming engagement, CMSC Artistic Director Lakshman Joseph-de Saram said: “We are honoured to welcome Karl to the Colombo stage. He is a fiery virtuoso and a master communicator who unites formidable technical command with intellectual insight. Presenting an artist of his international standing in Sri Lanka aligns directly with the CMSC’s core vision of bringing world-class musical experiences to our audience.”
Tickets for the recital are priced at Rs. 3,000 (free seating) and will be on sale via ticketsministry.com from 20 September. Details regarding the venue and registration for the masterclass will be announced shortly.
These concerts are made possible through the generous support of Baurs & Co., The Rukmini Tissanayagam Trust, the Tokyo Cement Group, and the Goethe-Institut.
Equally renowned as a soloist, chamber musician, and academic, Karl Lutchmayer holds the distinction of being the first Steinway Artist of Indian origin. His international career spans performances across four continents, with collaborations alongside conductors such as Sir Andrew Davis, Lorin Maazel, Neil Thomson, and Peter Stark. He has appeared with major ensembles including the Philharmonia Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, and has been featured on BBC Television and Radio, Classic FM, and All India Radio.
In the UK, Lutchmayer is widely celebrated for his Conversational Concerts series, through which he champions both rare and contemporary repertoire. He has given over 90 world premieres of works by composers including Henri Dutilleux, George Benjamin, and Thomas Adès. His 2025 Chandos recording of Busoni’s solo and duo piano music with Peter Donohoe received extensive critical acclaim, with International Piano describing their ensemble playing as “magnificent” and Gramophone praising his “artfully balanced” artistry.
Lutchmayer trained at the Royal College of Music, where he was awarded the Hopkinson Medal by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, before pursuing advanced studies under Lev Naumov at the Moscow Conservatoire. He holds an MPhil in Musicology from the University of Oxford and a PhD from the University of Cambridge.
In 2015, he was honored with the Bharat Gaurav (Pride of India) Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his enduring contribution to Western classical music in India.
Recital Programme
• Beethoven — Sonata in B-flat major, Op. 22
• Haydn — Sonata in C major, Hob. XVI:50
• Grieg — Notturno, Op. 54, No. 4
• Brahms — Drei Intermezzi, Op. 117
• Ravel — Ondine from Gaspard de la Nuit, M. 55
• Liszt — 3 Études from Grandes études de Paganini, S. 141
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Recital
Date & Time: Sunday, 11 October, 7 p.m.
Venue: Goethe-Institut Hall, Colombo
Tickets: Rs. 3,000 (free seating), available at ticketsministry.com
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