It's hard to believe that David Helfgott is about to embark on his farewell tour.
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But he will return to our major concert halls playing the Rach III in its version for two pianos to bid a fond farewell to his legions of loyal fans.
"I'm incredibly privileged to tour David on his farewell tour so he has an opportunity to see his fans once more," said promoter Andrew Kay.
David will perform his favourite solo piano works of Chopin and Liszt as well as Rachmaninov's third piano concerto in its version for two pianos.
David shares with his legion of loyal Australian fans, some of his music so iconically connected with his amazing life of personal challenge and enormous success, always defined by his determination to find joy in every moment.
An extraordinary artist who receives worldwide recognition, David's success comes as no surprise to his devoted admirers everywhere who have long regarded his playing as transcending mere music-making, and as an affirmation of the tenacity of the human spirit and imagination.
Joining David on stage to perform the exquisite and complex Rach III is international acclaimed pianist, Rhodri Clarke, who graduated with first class honours from London's Royal College of Music.
For more than 15 years, Rhodri has been touring world-wide playing in prestigious venues such as London's Royal Festival Hall and New York's Carnegie Hall.
From an early age, David Helfgott, showed extraordinary pianistic ability and at 19, went to London to study at the Royal College Of Music where he was described as its most brilliant student in 25 years.
Today he is one of the most internationally recognisable classical music artists through the amazing success of the Academy Award winning film Shine which celebrates his inspiring life.
In 2004 he was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor Of Music from Edith Cowan University in Perth. It is a source of enormous pride to David, made particularly important since illness prevented him from completing his degree in London three decades earlier.
His recordings, particularly of the Rachmaninov Third Piano Concerto, have topped both the classical music and pop music charts in Australia,
the UK and the USA and he has toured extensively throughout Australia and New Zealand and in Europe, playing to an ever-growing audience, particularly in such countries as Turkey, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark and in the UK.
His collaboration with British pianist, Rhodri Clarke, in the version for two-pianos, of the Rachmaninov concerto, has seen the duo appear together in concerts in Geneva, at Vienna's Musikverein, La Seine Musicale in Paris and at Zurich's Tonhalle, London's Barbican Hall and Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.
David's life time of success has come as no surprise to his legion of devoted admirers everywhere who have long regarded his recitals as outshining mere music making.
CONCERT PROGRAM
Chopin Ballade No 1 in G Minor
Chopin Ballade No 4 in F Minor
Liszt Ballade No 2 in B Minor
Mendelssohn Rondo Cappricioso
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No 3 in D Minor, Op. 30; version for two pianos.
David Helfgott performing Rach 3 (Two Pianos) with Rhodri Clarke is presented by Andrew Kay and Associates.
NATIONAL TOUR DETAILS
VIC
Melbourne Recital Centre, Thursday 4 July 7.30pm Booking link
WA
Perth Concert Hall, Sunday 7 July 2pm Booking link
QLD
QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane, Sunday 28 July 2pm Booking link
NSW
City Recital Hall, Sydney, Sunday 4 August 2pm Booking link
SA
Adelaide Town Hall, solo performance, Sunday 11 August 2pm Booking link
Therese Murray
Wordsmith. Senior journalist. Editor. I have a proven track record in helping people and communities solve their problems. My career is all about telling stories.
Wordsmith. Senior journalist. Editor. I have a proven track record in helping people and communities solve their problems. My career is all about telling stories.
