Named “a very special talent” by Murray Perahia, London-based Russian pianist Konstantin Lapshin is an distinguished musician with a unique artistic vision. A prize-winner in numerous international competitions, Konstantin completed his Master of Music degree at the Royal College of Music in 2009 on a full scholarship studying with Vanessa Latarche. He then went on to take the Artist Diploma, in addition to being nominated as the Mills Williams Junior Fellow and receiving their gold medal. During his time at the RCM, Konstantin won the Chappell Gold Medal and the college’s highest prize for the most outstanding student (across all disciplines), the Queen Elisabeth Rose bowl. He subsequently played for HRH Prince Charles and in the same year was nominated ‘Rising Star’ to play at Cadogan Hall, London. Since then Konstantin has performed in major concert halls around the world to much critical acclaim. Before moving to London, Konstantin completed his studies in the Moscow State Conservatoire with Lev Naumov and Michail Voskresensky.

Among Konstantin´s recent most exciting large scale performances stands his concert in Odessa (Ukraine). He was invited to play Rachmaninov's Concerto no.3 with Odessa Philharmonic and Grammy award-winning conductor and pianist Mikhail Pletnev as part of the first-annual 'Black Sea Music Fest'. The concert was organised in memory of victims of the war in Ukraine and received a big resonance in media.

Konstantin is also much in demand as a chamber musician. His collaboration with British violinist Madeleine Mitchell has led to a number of important performances in the UK. The CD of the music by Welsh composer Grace Williams recorded on ´Naxos´ with Madeleine Mitchell and other musicians has recently been named ´The CD of the Week´ by the Guardian and was second in the UK classical music charts.

Another exciting project of Konstantin was his recent Finland concert tour dedicated entirely to the 150th anniversary of Jean Sibelius. The tour comprised the performances in the cities assosiated with Sibelius and included, to name a few, Hameenlinna, where the composed was born, Helsinki, Hyvinkaa and Turku.

Konstantin has been a major prize-winner in more than 15 International and National piano competitions such as the Schubert International Piano Competition in Dortmund, Maria Yudina International Piano Competition in St Petersburg, 1st Gnessin International Piano Competition in Moscow, Rachmaninov International Piano Competition, Moscow, Novosibirsk International Piano Competition, Haverhill Sinfonia Soloist Competition in the UK. Most recently he won 2 Prize in the Isidor Bajic International Piano Competition (Serbia), 1St Prize in the Mendelssohn Cup Competition in Taurisano (It.), 1st Prize and Public prize of the Schumann Prize International Competition in Lamporrecchio (It).

His festival performances have included the Brighton festival, Chipping Campden festival, Buxton International Festival, Leeds International Concert Series, Schumann and Beethoven St.Barnabas festivals (UK), Bath Piano Recital Series, "Primavera Classica" (Italy), “Yamaha presents” (Gradus and Parnassum) in Moscow, “In Memory of V. Lotar-Shevchenko” in Novosibirsk, “All Mozart’s Concertos” in Volgograd (Russia) with Volgograd Symphonye Orchestra, "Black Sea Music Fest" in Odessa and others.

He has given recitals and concerto appearances at various concert halls across Europe including the Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room at the Southbank Centre, Cadogan Hall, Steinway Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, Fairfields Hall, the Salle Cortot in Paris, Piano Salon Christofori (Berlin) and others.

Konstantin’s concerto performances have included concerts with the Odessa Philharmonic and Mikhail Pletnev, Dortmund Symphony Orchestra and Dirk Kaftan, Timisoara Symphony orchestra and Radu Popu, Novosibirsk Simphony Orchestra and Evgeny Bushkov, Saratov Symphony Orchestra and Volgograd Symphony with E. Serov, De Havilland Philharmonic and Robin Browning (UK), Havant Symphony Orchestra and Samuel Draper.

Konstantin has been performing extensively all over Russia. The most important venues have included: Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory, Small Hall of Moscow Conservatory, Rachmaninov Hall, Zerkalny Hall, Tchaikovsky Arts Centre, the Big Hall of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.

Upcoming engagements include performances at the Bath International Festival, Llandeilo Music Festival, St James’s Piccadilly, St.Martin’s in the Fields, Bath Piano Recitals Series, Rachmaninov Concert Hall in Moscow; concerts in Italy and Germany, Portugal and Argentina.

Recordings of Konstantin have been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, Orpheus Radio (Moscow) as well as National Radio in Serbia and Poland In autumn 2009, Konstantin made his debut recording with Classical Records including works by Tchaikovsky/Pletnev and Schumann, to much critical acclaim. Konstantin is supported by the Worshipful Company of Musicians and is a Concordia and Kirckman Society artist.

Konstantin teaches at the Royal College of Music where he also received his Doctoral degree in 2019 with the support of the Musicians' Company Studentship and Mr Hugh Lloyd and since then has given masterclasses internationally and has served as a jury member of the International Piano Competitions and Festivals, most recently - International Piano Competition Julio Rospigliosi ´Premio Schumann´ (Italy), Beethoven Piano Competition ( RCM, London), Chamber Music Competition (RCM, London) and others.

REVIEWS:

"Konstantin Lapshin's performance gave me real pleasure. He's got a special edge in his performance, he makes the whole audience feel the music the way he does, because he has his own attitude to the piece performed. He has a lot to get across to the audience.. And this is the main thing"…

Mikhail Pletnev, pianist, conductor, composer

“A very special talent”

Murray Perahia, pianist

…“A big, impressive technique, and the impulsive, Romantic expression that has been a hallmark of so many Russian pianists, including Rachmaninov and Horowitz”…

Fanfare Magazine (USA)

"K. Lapshin is lavishing the ear with exquisite tonal shading, elegant inner voicing and a unique, but firm pulse"

Peter Burwasser, Fanfare

"Eloquent playing of great character. Our collaboration on Rachmaninov's 3rd concerto was one that I will remember for many years. This is a performer to watch out for."

Peter Stark, conductor, Professor, Royal College of Music, London

"Konstantin is an aristocratic pianist with a keen sense of musical awareness and virtuosity".

Vanessa Latarche, Head of Keybord, Professor, Royal College of Music, London

«…Konstantin Lapshin doté d’une respiration large et brave, d’une tête bien faite, d’un « cœur » (comme l’eut dit la critique d’autrefois) dûment accroché à cette tête – bravo»!

Bertrand Bolognesi, Anaclase

«Konstantin est d’une simplicité qui fait du bien et il rayonne dans cette simplicité. Il est direct dans son interprétation, élégant naturellement, il a encore beaucoup de fraîcheur, de poésie, son toucher de piano est tour à tour puissant sans être brutal, sans débordement, retenu et doux, avec de la délicatesse sans mièvrerie. Au bout de trois notes on sait déjà qui il interprète. Et tout celà nous paraît si naturel! C’est un artiste authentique. On ne parle plus de technique, de contrôle, ce qu’il donne va bien au-delà!… J’ai été très émue, presqu’aux larmes… »

Claude Perin

«L’interprète paraît improviser ces pages, les inventer sous nos yeux : une telle aisance est rare.»