David provides piano performances for LFA study | February 06 2012
Jeremy Marriott and David Helfgott have combined their expertise to create a study that investigates the potential of Receptive Music Therapy (music listening) to reduce challenging behaviours for males with Low Functioning Autism (LFA) while travelling to school by bus. Primary carers for males with LFA from around the world are invited to choose the music in the first of 3 studies. David has selected and provided the first 2 minutes of 6 solo piano performances for primary carers to listen, assess then rate. The music ratings will be statistically analysed to identify one piece that will be used in 2 further studies. This research has been approved by Curtin University in Perth Western Australia's Human Research Ethics Committee (Approval Number HR138/2011) and has the potential to benefit children with Autism, their families and schools.
Before you start, please check that your computer is running the latest version of Adobe Flash Player! For the latest free version click the link http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
Simply select the link below to participate in this exciting and much needed research:
https://curtin.asia.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_295lfBwPfPxiJo0
For further information, please contact Jeremy Marriott directly at jeremy.k.marriott@postgrad.curtin.edu.au
New south Wales Tour - David and Yantra de Vilder | 3rd March until 18 March - See Tour Schedule
David and Gillian were so delighted that Geoffrey Rush has received the Award of Australian of the Year 2012.
He is such an outstanding Australian, and one of the leading actors in the world. His dedication to the arts is complete, and his encouragement of our film industry and live theatre is quite outstanding. Also he is a man of great dignity and integrity and we have always been so proud of his performance as David in Shine. He is indeed a worthy recipient of this Award and will do this country proud..
David is preparing at the moment for the exciting tour he will be doing in Dubbo, Avoca Beach and Byron bay with the award winning Yantra de Vilder. The combination of these two great musicians, in somewhat contrasting fields, is proving to be quite irresistible. The beautiful improvisation by Yantra and the classical repertoire by David, join at the end of the performance with the fusion of their two great talents in creating original harmony and beauty. This is an exciting new avenue of expression for David and one he is relishing. A performance not to be missed.
AUSTRIAN AND GERMAN CONCERTS - BOOKINGS NOW OPEN | 2012 28 April, 12 May, 18th May and 25 May
RACHMANINOV THIRD PIANO CONCERTO WITH STUTTGARTER SYMPHONIDER
We are delighted to inform you that bookings for the above concerts in Vienna, Dortmund, Stuttgart and Leipzig are now open Online or at Ticket Hotlines. See under Tour Schedule for individual details.
David will perform two solo works in the first half of the programme featuring Bach's Italian Concerto and Beehoven's Piano Sonata Op.57 The Appassionata.
The second half will feature his beloved Rachmaninov Third Piano Concerto and David is delighted to be performing in such historic and beautiful venues. This is a very rare opportunity to have the combination of a solo recital in the first half and the wonderful Racmaninov third Piano concert in the second half of the programme.
Revisit Sunrise interview with David | 11 March 2011
http://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/video/-/watch/21436480
- revisit interview with David, August 2010
David's music provides hope for young people dealing with anxiety | 28 February 2011
Throughout 2010, classical piano music tracks provided by international pianist David Helfgott, (whose early life was portrayed by Geoffrey Rush in the Oscar winning film SHINE ) was involved in research conducted by Jeremy Marriott BA (Psych) BSc (Psych) Hons. to test the anxiety reducing properties for children with Asperger's Disorder living in Western Australia. Not only did the study reveal statistical reductions in anxiety, one overjoyed mother reported: "before the treatment our daughter was so anxious; she and our family simply couldn't function" ... and after the study : "she is a changed girl! We feel like we have our daughter back".
Buoyed by these results, David and Jeremy are looking at ways of offering the results of further study and research to more children. When further research information is ready to be rolled out more information will be provided on www.davidhelfgott.com
Letter from audience member Nelson Concert, NZ | 5 Dec 2010
This is an excerpt from a note received from a member of the audience in Nelson New Zealand that she is happy to share..
A big thank you!
".. thank you SO much for yesterday's concert which I truly found one of
those unforgettable life- enhancing experiences that I will hold in my soul
memory forever and bring out when I am an old, old lady. I will dream and
say " I remember going to a concert once where I experienced the magic of
David Helfgott playing Rachmaninov ....." as I drift away.
David Helfgott was WONDERFUL. He completely captivated me and the entire
audience. Between him and the magical Steinway and the purity of the
acoustics in our dear little Nelson School of Music. Thank you SO much.
I am listening to the CD with him playing Chopin as I write and I agree
with the catalogue notes where it says of his concerts that he transcends
mere music-making and his music is an affirmation of the tenacity of the
human spirit and imagination.
Please express my gratitude to them both.
With love,
Jane xxx
Jane E
Nelson, NZ 7001
Capetown South Africa - letter of thanks from a young pianist | 19 September 2010
Dear Mr Helfgott
I am 16 years old and am writing to you to tell you how much your
recital on the 19th of September in Cape Town meant to me.
As soon as you ran onto the stage, I knew that this would be the most
inspiring concert of my life so far. I was captivated even before you
had played a single note. I think all pianists and pianists-to-be can
learn a lot from watching you play. It was so nice to see you enjoy
playing the music so much- and this made a huge impression on me.
Normally the performers hold themselves higher than everyone and
create a very serious atmosphere. It was wonderful to see you so
relaxed and having such a good time.
To meet you personally and get your autograph after the concert made
the event an experience that I will always remember. To meet your hero
is so wonderful and I thank you for giving me the opportunity. Thank
you for meeting with your audience after the concert and not turning
them away as so many artists do.
Once again, thank you for being such a wonderful inspiration to young
pianists. I will always remember this concert and how utterly happy
you made the audience. Please, please come back to Cape Town soon!
Lots of love
Nicholas H
Image of Nic who is an aspiring pianist, his dream is to become a concert performer.
David Helfgott played to an ecstatic audience | 28 August 2010
David Helfgott wowed the audience at the City Recital Hall Angel Place with a stunning new program of romantic works on Saturday 28 August.
Following on from the huge success of his solo recitals at City Recital Hall Angel Place in 2008 and 2009, David Helfgott, one of the world s best loved and most outstanding pianists, again delighted his Sydney audience with a dazzling new program of romantic works.
Currently Australia s most famous international concert pianist, Helfgott performed a stunning program of works by some of the greatest romantic composers including Mendelssohn, Liszt, Rachmaninov and Chopin.
His repertoire included Rachmaninovs popular Prelude in C# Minor, Opus 3 No.2, Chopins last sonata for solo piano, Sonata No.3 B Minor Op. 58, Liszt s virtuosic Paganini Etude No. 3 La Campanella, and his fiendishly difficult Mephisto Waltz No.1 in A Major, S.514.
"You have to hear David Helfgott at least once in your life" | 27 July 2010
Quote from Tim Webster as part of
Tim Webster's interview with Gillian Helfgott : program 2UE / Sydney
Helfgott chooses a Petrof Monsoon handcrafted piano for his home | 28 July 2010
A partnership between Petrof Pianos and David has been formed and the excitement of this beautiful instrument and David sharing their life at home is something very joyous for him. When he realized the size of the piano he said "just knock down a wall to fit it in" so that is what happened.
| 27 Nov 2009
ESP Magazine