I went to hear David Helfgott's recital at Symphony Hall in Boston this evening. The concert was sold out, but I lined up for returns and got in. This concert was the first in David's North American tour. The programme included Mendelssohn's Rondo Capriccioso in E minor, Chopin's Etude Op 10 No. 3, Chopin Ballade No 4 in F minor, Liszt's Etude "Un Sospiro", Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, and Beethoven's Waldstein Sonata.

This is the first recital I have ever been to where the pianist runs on and off stage! He wore a white shirt and black trousers.

I enjoyed the Mendelssohn. He has a good technique and this showed up especially in the Scherzo section. He brought out the melodies nicely. He sometimes sings, talks or moans as he plays, and this was fairly loud at times, even louder than the music! He also looks at the audience from time to time while he is playing (just as he did in the movie "Shine") to see if the audience is enjoying the music as much as he was!

When he is not playing with his right hand he conducts himself. At one time during the Chopin Ballade, he took his hand off the keyboard and adjusted his shirt while the left hand kept on playing. He missed out the notes in the right hand while he did this.

I didn't find the Chopin pieces too satisfying. They were rather subdued and it was sometimes difficult to hear the melodies. There was not much variation in dynamics and everything seemed to be "p" or "mf" and not much else. Places which are usually played "forte", he played "piano". It was a pity that the audience applauded before he finished the ballade (after the loud chords and pause, just before the coda) and this spoilt the effect.

The Liszt "Un Sopspiro" came across quite nicely but I still felt it was a bit subdued and could have had more variation, more passion, and he could have brought out the melodies more. The Hungarian Rhapsody was well played, especially towards the end. He made an amusing pause just before the final chords at the end.

In the Beethoven Waldstein Sonata this showed that he had very nimble fingers playing fast scales and other passages, but some of the detail was obscured due to the fast speed and pedalling. It was a bit too superficial for my liking. His singing, talking, and other noises were loud during the sonata.

He received a standing ovation. David Helfgott played three encores: something that sounded like one of Percy Grainger's compositions, Rachmaninoff's Etude in G sharp minor Op 32, and the Rachmaninoff transcription of Rimsky Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumble Bee" which he played in the movie "Shine". These were very good performances.

He was extremely popular with the audience and seemed to be well loved. Many people came up to the stage to shake his hand and to give him flowers. He shook one man's hand four times! He seemed to enjoy every minute of the concert.

Outside Symphony Hall there were at least four different TV broadcast vans with camera crews interviewing people who were leaving the auditorium.

This was one of the most interesting and unusual recitals I have ever attended!

Return To Home Page