Rafael Kyrychenko

If you are looking for a way to spend your Tuesday lunchtime on May 19, 2026, there is a piano recital happening at the Studio Theatre in the Brighton Dome. Rafael Kyrychenko, a Portuguese pianist born in 1996 in the Azores, is scheduled to perform as part of the Brighton Festival’s 'Lunchtimes' series. The concert starts at 1:00 pm, and it offers a specific programme that focuses on musical dualities. Kyrychenko has chosen to contrast the poetic meditation of Olivier Messiaen’s Première Communion de la Vierge with the darker, more intense depiction of the devil found in Liszt’s Mephisto No. 1. He will also play Schumann’s Arabesque and Études Symphoniques, pieces often cited for reflecting the composer's own divided personality.

Kyrychenko’s background includes studies with Maria João Pires and Daniel Blumenthal, and he began his training at age five with his mother, Cristina Pliousnina. He has previously performed at venues like the Wigmore Hall and the Palau de la Música Catalana, and he holds the first prize from the keyboard section of the 2025 Royal Over-Seas League Music Competition. Regarding his playing style, conductor Mikhail Jurowski has noted his technical freedom and musicality. For this specific performance, the organisers have arranged for a Steinway piano to be provided by a London-based house.

For those planning to attend, tickets are priced at £15 for the general public, with a reduced rate of £10 for anyone under 30. If you choose to book via phone or online, there is an additional £3.50 booking fee per order, though this does not apply to members. The venue, located on Church Street, has set an age recommendation of 5 years and older, and please note that anyone under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. It is a straightforward setup for a midday concert, fitting well into the festival's schedule for those who enjoy classical piano in a more intimate setting.