Adelaide audiences treated to a final performance from one of the greatest virtuoso pianists
Presented by: AKA
Reviewed: 11 August, 2024
With pianistic skill that has been likened to that of Horowitz, Australia’s own David Helfgott needs little introduction. He gained attention from a young age for his remarkable abilities, and his inspiring life story was featured in the Oscar-winning film Shine. After many years of public performances, 2024 marks Helfgott’s farewell tour, a final opportunity for his many fans to see him perform.
Audiences were awarded the extraordinary experience of seeing this master at work, set against the backdrop of the gorgeous Adelaide Town Hall. Helfgott jogged onto the stage, exuding energy, a wide smile and a thumbs up to the audience. The set list, while unfortunately not including Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.3 for the Adelaide performance, nevertheless reminded us why Helfgott is a master of the Romantic repertoire. Chopin’s Ballade No.4 and Etude Op.25 were treated with evocative rubato, the running passages played with delicate crispness. Helfgott clearly revelled in the dramatic contrasts in Beethoven’s famous “Appassionata” Sonata, often giving the audience a sly grin before a sudden fortissimo or an equally sudden drop to piano. Liszt’s Sonata in B minor was magnificent, showing why, even at age 77, David Helfgott is one of the leading virtuoso pianists of our time.
Helfgott is a wonder to watch. He’s not only sitting at the piano playing, but he has an almost spiritual connection to the instrument. He is the piano, and the instrument, the music and the man are one complete entity. He talks as he plays, sometimes counting aloud or humming important melodic lines in the piece; one would think this would be a distraction from the performance, but it only adds to the sense of oneness with the music that Helfgott exudes. His playing is a masterclass in relaxation, as he makes the most complex passages look downright easy, even regularly glancing around at the audience during moments that would demand absolute focus for any other player.
Applause between every piece was thunderous — positively raucous for a Classical music audience. Helfgott’s joy at sharing music was evident by his endearing smile and thumbs up, as well as detours around the edge of the stage to shake hands with fans or receive gifts and cards. After extensive applause at the end of the performance, Helfgott, flashing a grin at the audience, launched into an encore that needed no introduction: The Flight of The Bumblebee by Rimsky-Korsakov, performed at the required cracking pace with absolute precision.
This was the final performance of David Helfgott’s farewell tour. I for one feel very lucky to have been able to witness this genius at work; it was certainly a performance that will stay in our minds for a long time to come.
Reviewed by Kristin Stefanoff
Venue: Adelaide Town Hall
Season: ended
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