The Live at Yours innovation, born during lockdown, has morphed into a substantial concert series, bringing major artists to tour Australia. 35-year-old French pianist Lucas Debargue was the latest of these, performing in the acoustically and visually commanding interior of Sydney’s Great Synagogue (colourfully and atmospherically lit). 

Lucas Debargue performs in Sydney’s Greart Synagogue. Photo © Irena & Jan Photography

Debargue is a virtuoso musician with an extraordinary, unforced technique that he puts entirely at the service of the interpretation. He has recorded notable collections of music by Gabriel Fauré and Domenico Scarlatti (reputedly his favourite composer). His ‘brand’ is also about freedom: he changes programs at will, depending on how he feels on the day, and his interpretive decisions at the keyboard are made spontaneously.

In last night’s concert, for example, half the advertised program was jettisoned (no Fauré!), and the title of the recital, L’Énigme Française, was either discarded or reinforced – depending on whether you were expecting French or enigmatic. What we heard was firstly an original improvisation in B♭ on a traditional...