lambert's father, while born in russia and of american heritage, viewed himself as first and foremost an australian. constant was always conscious of his australian connections, although he never visited that country. for the first performance of his piano concerto (1931), rather than select a british-born pianist, lambert chose the sydney-born, brisbane-trained arthur benjamin to play the solo part. despite his disapproval of homosexuality he formed a good working relationship with benjamin's fellow australian robert helpmann. afterwards he entrusted yet another australian musician, gordon watson, with the task of playing the virtuoso piano part at the première of his last ballet, "tiresias".