The Piano (AU) Season 1 Episode 5
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00:00This is the piano, and this is not a train station. Wow, plot twist.
00:19We're on Gadigal land, in the retail hot pot at the heart of Sydney's Chinatown.
00:24With mouth-watering food and fabulous fashion, we thought this place was missing one thing,
00:31a public piano. And with well over a million pianos sitting in living rooms across the country,
00:40and thousands more being sold each year, it's clear that Australians love the piano.
00:48Well, hi. So, as always, we've invited some inspiring pianists.
00:52Oh, a kiss. Who are more accustomed to playing in the comfort of their own homes,
00:57to come out, share their stories, and play for the people.
01:03Wow. But you and I know something that our pianists don't. Hiding just over there,
01:11in a tourism information office, to world-class pianists.
01:15Have you already gone outside to buy a souvenir? I did. How can you not buy something here?
01:21Yeah. Global jazz superstar, Harry Connick Jr., and critically acclaimed classical goddess,
01:28Andrea Lamb. I love that we've managed to hide Harry Connick Jr. in a shopping centre. Brilliant.
01:36These two are on the hunt for one last piano-playing Australian, to be part of their life-changing
01:43concert. They'll join DJ, Grace, Stefania, and John to celebrate the power of the piano on one of
01:58Australia's most revered stages. This is the piano.
02:10Going up second floor.
02:14This is a huge space. Yeah. It's in the middle of this huge atrium,
02:18and the piano is right in the centre of it, with this massive ceiling.
02:22All the reverberation, all the echo. It makes you sound better. It's like in-built, natural airbrushing,
02:28essentially. Exactly.
02:29You're right.
02:32For our concert, we've got one spot left.
02:36I think it'd be really nice to have someone where the piano is almost their obsession,
02:41and has been for their entire life, and then bringing that to the table.
02:44Yeah.
02:45You know, this actually feels the creepiest, because we're like a metre away from them.
03:06Oh, look at these guys. Oh, sorry, mate. Oh, she's on the way now.
03:12All right. Lucky number one. Woo! Let's go.
03:17Oh, hello, ladies. Don't you both look fantastic? What's your name?
03:22Good to see you. Pamela.
03:22Hello, Pamela.
03:23Jagula.
03:24You're a beautiful pair.
03:25All right, I'm excited.
03:26Yeah. What's happening?
03:29What's your relationship with each other?
03:31This is my grandma.
03:32Mm-hmm.
03:33And she's my music teacher.
03:35Oh, really?
03:35And my mentor taught me classical singing when I was younger and piano.
03:41Were you happy to learn when you were younger?
03:42Yeah.
03:43Good student.
03:44Oh, she was just music from the top of the head to the tip of the toes.
03:48Oh, really?
03:49Sounds like you're very close.
03:50I owe everything to this woman for what I do in my life.
03:53Oh, man.
03:54There's something particularly beautiful about the connection
03:58between someone and their grandparent.
04:01So beautiful.
04:02We have a bond that's indescribable, I guess.
04:07You're back.
04:09She says to me, sometimes, you gave me my life.
04:12And I say to her, you are my life.
04:16I'm coming.
04:17Her interest in music, of course, drew us together very much.
04:24Take that pedal off a bit.
04:25Oh, too much pedal.
04:28Whenever Jagula was in the house, we were working on something to do with music.
04:35You're doing it in C?
04:36We loved rehearsing.
04:37We loved doing it together.
04:39Go.
04:44What a wonderful woman.
04:46She gave me the greatest gift ever, which was music.
04:50And we've had the piano accompany both of us throughout our entire lives.
04:54It's just been our little side companion.
04:59We hold family dear, and especially in our culture.
05:02What about your culture?
05:03Oh, well, I'm Wiradjuri, Ngunnawal, Ngambri, Wolgaloo and Gamilaroi.
05:10And I relate to my Wiradjuri the most.
05:13I've been told a lot that I'm a song woman.
05:16There's definitely ancient DNA from thousands and thousands and thousands of generations.
05:24And that runs through my blood.
05:26And that is definitely connected with my voice and my music.
05:31So tell us about the song you're going to sing today.
05:34It's a Bob Dylan song, Make You Feel My Love.
05:36I thought to myself, oh, I think this would sound really amazing in Wiradjuri.
05:42I'm just going to see what it's like.
05:44It was the first translation that I ever created myself.
05:48So we're about to hear To Make You Feel My Love translated into a language that's probably 60,000 years old.
05:58I mean, how lucky are we to see this?
06:01Come and stand with me, Pamela.
06:03Hello, hello, hello, hi.
06:07And these are your great-grandchildren?
06:09Yes.
06:10Oh, you've got a whole stack here.
06:11How wonderful.
06:12Oh, you're going to cry.
06:34Oh, you're going to cry.
06:35What a sweet voice.
06:53Beautiful voice.
06:55Oh, you're going to cry.
06:59When mob were moved to missionaries and moved off their homelands and away from their families,
07:19we were barred from speaking or singing our languages.
07:23So lots of languages were lost.
07:25So I find it's my cultural duty to learn that language.
07:31It strengthens country, my greater mob and community.
07:44Being able to experience something from so long ago in this moment just blows my mind.
07:50Being able to write.
07:54You ain't seen nothing like me, yeah.
07:59For sure.
08:00Wow.
08:02I could make you happy, make your dreams come true.
08:12Nothing I wouldn't do, no
08:18Go to the ends of the earth for you
08:25To make you feel my love
08:42That was extremely cool
08:45That was just beautiful
08:47Somehow we have to find a way to get that to Bob Dylan
08:50That would, I'm sure, blow his mind
08:53So beautiful to see how much it means to her
08:56And how empowering it must feel to be able to sing this song in this way
09:01She's really talented
09:03You should be very proud
09:05I couldn't think of a life without music any other way
09:08It's literally who I've become
09:10And that's all because of that little lady, you know
09:13Do you want to learn the piano?
09:14We can do some trio stuff together
09:16Yes
09:17Very, very thankful that she's my grandma
09:20I want to be like her when I grow up
09:23Sounds in my eyes now
09:25I've gotcha, you'll be right
09:26Follow my voice, follow my voice, follow my voice
09:40This guy looks very well dressed up
09:43He looks like Superman, you know
09:45Take the glasses off
09:46Clark Kent
09:47Hello, I'm Amanda
09:48Hi, nice to meet you
09:49What's your name?
09:50Nick
09:51We caught you on your way to work, you're so nicely dressed
09:52No, I always wear a suit
09:54Do you?
09:55I like suits
09:56Do you?
09:57People treat you better when you're wearing a suit
09:58Oh, that's interesting
09:59Yeah
10:00Styling and profiling
10:01He really is
10:02So, do you have a job where you have to wear a suit?
10:05Uh, I do work in real estate
10:07Do you like working in real estate?
10:09I love talking to people
10:11The only downside is that I don't really like real estate
10:14I spat on you then, I'm sorry
10:16No, that's fine
10:19So, what is your passion?
10:21Uh, music
10:22Yeah
10:23Piano
10:24I play like around the city, I do busking
10:27Do girls like the piano?
10:29Um, yeah, some do
10:31Once I was playing for about three hours on George Street
10:35And there was a female watching me for the entire time
10:43Hello
10:44And then she walked up to me and gave me a bottle of water
10:47And said, oh, you must be thirsty after all this time
10:50And then I asked her out on a date
10:52And...
10:55Yeah
10:56I'm dying to know what he's gonna play
11:01I'm dying to know what he's gonna play
11:11Wow
11:12Him
11:13You ever watch people do like card tricks and sleight of hand stuff?
11:27you ever watch people do like card tricks and like sleight-of-hand stuff
11:37I don't have like graceful hands but this guy has magician musician hands
11:43wow he's got range he's got dynamic contrast he's got technical chops
12:13listen to the people yes yes Nick he just put himself into the running for being in the final
12:28concert would anyone like a selfie I feel like his mom yes come on in have a selfie Nick that
12:34was amazing be gentle with him he's a lovely young man hello nice to meet you he's like a pop star out
12:42there look at him he's loving that fifty bucks a photo for Nick okay here we go nice nice okay
12:52ladies come on in this is really why he started playing piano don't ask him about real estate
13:00what a crowd pleaser interesting place to explore actually Chinatown my name is Malik I live in the
13:17northern rivers New South Wales well hello and welcome how old are you I'm thinking Malik's 15
13:27I am 16 years old 16 16 yeah okay and tell us how long have you played the piano I've been playing
13:35the piano for about three and a half years mm-hmm okay newcomer yeah welcome to the club a few years
13:43ago I just decided to look up the hardest piano pieces there were and thought I'm going to tackle
13:48that yeah and I did and I loved it oh good for him how often do you get to practice the piano every
13:55day mm-hmm I'm currently homeschooled so I get to prioritize the piano over the school instead
14:01of the other way around have you always been homeschool no unfortunately not what do you think
14:09Lola what do you think Molly should play I did not fit in at school no because I did not think people
14:25understood me I see myself as a very shy kid shy and self-critical a lot of people probably thought I
14:34was weird I don't know I think they like probably would have thought I was autistic which I am
14:40hello what was that like going to school it was pretty bad you would get severely bullied if you were
14:52autistic that was when mum decided to take me out and to homeschool what does the piano mean in your life
15:05it can mean hope I can tackle anything else that's difficult in other areas of my life piano has taught me
15:12that the fact that other piano the door was pretty big and it was sort of the job that I needed if I
15:22hadn't done that I don't think I'd be here today so what are you going to play today today I'll be
15:30playing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata third movement oh that's a tricky that's a very tricky movement I
15:37wouldn't have expected three and a half years after three and a half years of piano playing I'm I am intrigued
15:43thank you the third movement is one of the most deceptively difficult pieces
16:00the chair is a little bit too low still and the keys feel weird I know just
16:30do what you can everything all right yes okay I'm good now come on Malik you got it
17:00wow
17:10Malik's feeling it now isn't it it's like unbelievably impressive once you make a mistake they can liberate
17:29you because what you were afraid of happened to get over that hump once you're over that you're good to
17:35go
17:35like there's a lot of interpretive flexibility you know like there's so much music there to work with you know it's so romantic as many times as I've heard this melody it takes everything I have not to just weep it's just so it's just so beautiful
18:10before the piano
18:15before the piano when I was very angry
18:17it's really been that way to control my emotions just to channel it through
18:24the music the good and the bad
18:26piano is joy
18:29kindness
18:31struggle
18:32hope
18:34strength
18:36and despair
18:43you can really tell a story through the music and make people understand
18:48it sounds like the piano is his friend and that's where he gets so much of his comfort and so much joy out of
19:03so much of his comfort and so much joy out of
19:10I didn't see that coming
19:18wow
19:25come and join us down here
19:28Malik you turned a shopping centre into a cathedral that was extraordinary how do you feel?
19:35feeling very happy
19:36you were terrific
19:37well done
19:38it was really good
19:39the drama in that was captivating
19:41congratulations
19:42thank you
19:43thank you so much
19:44Malik thank you
19:45it's been lovely meeting you
19:46and you too I really enjoyed you today thank you so much
19:48thank you
19:49thank you
19:50bye
19:51I think Malik might be one of the best pianists that we've heard
19:56I agree
19:57he may have the most potential of everyone we've seen
20:01I love you
20:03I love you too
20:04imagine him
20:05on a concert hall stage playing on a concert grand
20:08this would be a whole different deal for him
20:10and he's only been playing for three and a half years
20:12I think he's got a real future here
20:20wow
20:22he might be it
20:23that's true
20:24Malik was fantastic
20:25yeah
20:26pretty amazing
20:27he's in the running for sure
20:28one slot left
20:29so far so good
20:30I think it's gonna be tough
20:31it's gonna be tough
20:32it's gonna be tough
20:33we're trying to figure out how to make it a complete concert
20:35and have all of the variety that we've seen represented in this concert
20:40so have you booked any holidays any tours for anybody
20:43no but I'd like to get some dumplings
20:45I mean we're like in the middle of Chinatown so
20:47it smells good
20:48it smells really good
20:49it smells really good in here
20:50well I'll leave this with you in case someone wants to book a bridge climb
20:52I'll see you a bit later
20:53thank you
20:54see you soon
20:55man I love me some dumplings
20:56our piano must feel right at home here in Chinatown
21:01because this ancient culture was responsible for the Chinese key
21:07first produced over five and a half thousand years ago
21:10this instrument was the foundation for what is now the modern piano
21:17so as the lunch rush hits Market City the youngsters are hitting the key
21:21no
21:22see what I did there
21:24girl put your records on
21:28tell me your favourite song
21:31so let's go ahead let your hair down
21:35gotta go see this
21:36I hope you get your dreams
21:40so let's go ahead let your hair down
21:43big crowd the people hanging over the edges
21:46it's a really popular song and she's singing it really really well
21:51such joy in her playing in her music
21:53I think we needed this injection of energy
22:09energy
22:12but the biggest kick I ever got
22:14was doing a thing called the crocodile rock
22:17while the other kids are rocking round the clock
22:20are we gonna be on Jamie?
22:21sure
22:22I'm gonna dance
22:23I don't know a crocodile rock I don't think
22:25I'm rocking some of the shock
22:26and when you feed Justin keep still
22:28been working so hard
22:31I'm boxing my car
22:34you know that song Footloose?
22:36yes
22:37yeah
22:38that one I do
22:39tonight I gotta cut loose
22:41put loose
22:42kick up your Sunday shoes
22:45everybody's filming
22:46please
22:47Louise
22:48pull me off of my need
22:52next to pull up a pew
22:54hi
22:55is ex-nun Doreen
22:57are you still a nun?
22:58is it once a nun always a nun?
22:59no
23:00no I'm well out of it
23:02what's the best thing since you've left?
23:04whiskey
23:05right
23:06a little bit of party in life
23:08I'll go and get you a whiskey when you're finished
23:10thank you
23:24alright
23:25Doreen's like a real life sister act
23:28religious life is wonderful
23:38I was 16 when I joined the convent
23:41stayed there until I was 40
23:43there are sacrifices to be made but there's many many blessings
23:49my favourite thing about being in religious life was the music
23:54I learnt to love praising God in this particular manner
23:59yeah
24:00playing a little medley
24:02she's putting more of a swing feel on the ragtime
24:13ragtime is very straight
24:15da da da da da da da da da da
24:17yeah
24:18swing has a more da da da da da da da da da da da da
24:22and then she's got this boogie woogie part right in the middle
24:25it's so cool to hear her play that way
24:29oh
24:39thank you
24:42thank you
24:44thank you
24:45thank you
24:46you're going to be nuts over that
24:47this is kind of like the best concert hall
24:50because you have people surrounding you but on all levels
24:53thank you
24:55you know how much professional experience she has?
25:00none
25:01get it?
25:04none
25:06how do you get it?
25:07she's a none
25:09ah ha
25:10don't worry about it
25:11that was a good one
25:13bye
25:15bye
25:18going down
25:26the piano isn't all just fun and games
25:29thousands of Australians now use the instrument in therapy
25:33for severe issues like chronic pain and physiological trauma
25:38no throwing food to the pigeons never do that
25:41okay
25:42with 950 registered music therapists across the country
25:45the power of music has had a proven scientific effect on people
25:50just like our next pianist
25:52i'm simon shaheen
25:54i'm electrical engineer
26:00today i'm playing a nocturne by chopin
26:03it's in c-sharp minor
26:04some newspapers
26:05just like i'm mingling
26:06so skip
26:19yeah
26:20yeah
26:25absolutely
26:27ok
26:29mean
26:30chopin inspires me because he was a refugee as well
26:32I was a refugee as well.
26:37I was born in Damascus, Syria.
26:40In 2011, war erupted in Syria.
26:44It was barbaric.
26:46For years, they were kidnapping people and hijacking cars,
26:50using suicide bombs in busy streets,
26:53mortar shelling us every single day.
26:55We were petrified, going through literally hell.
26:59And many, many people died.
27:10Every single day, we were praying not to die.
27:19In 2015, when we got the visas to come to Australia,
27:23it was the happiest moment in our lives.
27:26It pinched me.
27:28It's just true.
27:29It's just a reality.
27:36After I arrived to Australia, I had PTSD from the war.
27:40When a balloon pops or a window shuts down,
27:42I would duck to the floor, because that was a natural reaction.
27:45You duck for your life.
27:47One of the things that I've did to overcome the stress
27:52and the PTSDs of the war,
27:54were playing piano.
27:56It allowed me to express some of those deep emotions of sadness
28:00and despair.
28:02Playing this piece makes me feel hopeful for a better future.
28:25It's so beautiful.
28:40It's kind of like a really personal moment.
28:42Make a bow.
28:43Look at all your people.
28:46Cheers.
28:47I hope you enjoy.
28:48Thank you, Simon.
28:50That was wonderful.
28:51Thank you very much.
28:52Cheers.
28:55I can't even imagine what growing up and the way he grew up
28:59must have been like.
29:00And to hear him sort of channel that,
29:02when Chopin wrote that music,
29:04he wrote it to be interpreted.
29:06And we just heard it interpreted by someone who needed it
29:10in a time of great difficulty.
29:12And it was just so cool to hear that, you know?
29:16It's incredible to think of what the piano has done for him.
29:19That's what this is all about to me.
29:29And look at these.
29:30These are little highlighter pens.
29:33For us to sort of sit back and watch.
29:36Like I'm ready.
29:37It's really an unusual feeling.
29:40It really is.
29:42I'm like dying to play.
29:44I can't stand it anymore.
29:46It's cruelty is what it is.
29:51Hello, Tom.
29:52I'm Amanda.
29:53Can I give you a hug?
29:54Oh, a kiss.
29:55You're a flirt.
30:00My name's Tom Goldsworthy.
30:02I'm 20 and I'm from Goodnock.
30:05Are you right there, Karen?
30:06I'm good.
30:07You're okay? Great.
30:08I've always called her Karen Carpenter.
30:10Oh, well.
30:11How very musical.
30:13I love this guy.
30:15And this is Ivy with you here?
30:16Yes, it is.
30:17She's my assistant's dog.
30:19She sadly doesn't empty the dishwasher for me.
30:23I was hysterical.
30:25Ivy helps me in many ways.
30:28Crowded places and doctor's appointments.
30:32Because I used to be terrified of going to the doctors when I was little.
30:37I've had a total of 62 operations.
30:40Mostly eye and brain surgery.
30:44When I was little, I'd always bring a toy in to the hospital to calm me for surgery.
30:50Got this toy piano and I started tinkering on it.
30:56I still have it to this day.
30:58This was my first piano with white and black keys.
31:01It's called the CX-500.
31:04I can play over 300 songs.
31:07I think the piano has given me lots of calm and relaxation after all these operations I've had.
31:16What kind of song are you going to play for us today?
31:19I'm going to be playing The Winner Takes It All from ABBA.
31:22Why this song, Tom?
31:24The song does talk about a breakup of a relationship.
31:29But when the crescendo happens, it feels like that you're actually the winner.
31:35Like, it feels like you're actually winning something.
31:38It's like hope.
31:40That's really interesting.
31:41Like, he's taking an ABBA song, which isn't normally sort of analyzed musically.
31:46But Tom was up here, you know, breaking it down.
32:11Tell you what, we've heard a lot of piano players.
32:27He's one of the better storytellers with the piano that I've heard.
32:30When Tom was very, very young, they doubted very much that he would walk, sit up, talk.
32:45Even though Tom has gone through a lot of adversity in his life, he's so happy.
32:50Every mum thinks their kid is amazing.
33:01But Tom has so much character.
33:03He has a lot of resilience.
33:05And he's actually taught me probably more than I've taught him.
33:08That was just absolutely beautiful, Tom. Thank you.
33:24Tom killed it.
33:26I thoroughly enjoy playing the big upright piano.
33:29You know, inspired me to take the whole piano home.
33:33Proud of you, mate.
33:35You did well.
33:43Well, looky here.
33:45Don't be kidding.
33:46Don't be kidding.
33:47You brought them.
33:48Yum, yum, yum.
33:49You're the best.
33:50Say, I never do anything for you.
33:51You're the best.
33:52Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay.
33:55Man, that's hot, but it's good.
33:58Much like our experts now full of dumplings,
34:03the average piano is full of parts.
34:0712,000 to be exact.
34:09And I dare say our next pianist knows what each of them does.
34:13It's a nice-looking family.
34:14Hi!
34:16It's young piano buff, Ethan.
34:18So, why do you love classical music so much?
34:21Because classical music is basically like the golden period of all music.
34:27How old is this guy?
34:28Nine.
34:30It's where some of the most famous composers were living, like Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Rachmaninoff.
34:38By the way, I'm not putting this in order.
34:40Scrab and Schubert, Vivaldi, Bach, so many more.
34:45It's like you're naming all the Spice Girls.
34:46Yeah.
34:47How much do you love your classical music?
34:50Oh, this much!
34:53Like, as long as there's piano.
34:56He speaks about it like he's 50, 60 years old.
34:59But with the enthusiasm of a kid listening to pop radio, that's why the music hasn't gone anywhere.
35:06I'm gonna go up and stand over with your family, or else you'll have turned 10 before we finish.
35:12Today, I'm playing Turkish March by Mozart, because Mozart was a very cheeky man, so his compositions were very cheeky.
35:21And that means it's easy to imply very big dynamics.
35:25I'm really curious. I think that Mozart is one of the most difficult composers to play.
35:37Even I know this one.
35:50What I love about his playing is the expression and the phrasing.
35:53He's smart enough to understand things on a nuanced level.
35:56Yeah.
36:04He can't reach an octave yet.
36:06Yeah, yeah. He gets a pass.
36:09I remember the feeling when I could first reach an octave.
36:12It was just like the whole world had opened up.
36:15He's so dramatic. I love it. Come on down.
36:31Yes, Ethan!
36:32I think Ethan did a great job.
36:34What might push Ethan over the top for me is how much I love him and the joy he brings to the idea of playing.
36:44Mm.
36:45He's checking a lot of boxes for me.
36:46What a sense of drama.
36:47Oh, I wish I could keep playing.
36:48I love it.
36:49Okay, who have we got next?
36:50Who we got?
36:51Who we got?
36:52My name is Vincenzo Pandolfi.
36:53I was born in Italy.
36:54I was born in Italy.
36:55I love him.
36:56I love him and the joy he brings to the idea of playing.
36:57He's checking a lot of boxes for me.
36:58What a sense of drama.
36:59I wish I could keep playing.
37:01I love it.
37:04I love it.
37:05Okay, who have we got next?
37:11Who we got?
37:19My name is Vincenzo Pandolfi.
37:21I was born in Italy.
37:24I was a musician in Italy.
37:28That was my band.
37:30We often play venues with maybe 1,500 people, 2,000 people.
37:37It's a very old photo of Willen and myself.
37:40My wife is Elaine.
37:43I met Elaine in 1971 in a restaurant in Italy.
37:49I went there with my father.
37:51In there my father said, go and talk to the English girl behind you.
37:54She can't read the menu.
37:56Yeah.
37:57She looked absolutely gorgeous.
37:59But she turned out to be Australian.
38:03She was a bit taken aback.
38:05I had very long black hair.
38:07So I helped her with the menu.
38:09Then she said, I'll buy you a beer.
38:11Neil and I was a pianist.
38:13I played keyboards.
38:14So we both had that in common.
38:16Yeah, it went from there.
38:19Well, eventually we came to Australia on a ship in 1975.
38:24I've been married 50 years.
38:27My wife is the love of my life.
38:32In 2014, she had a stroke.
38:40I'm a primary carer.
38:42When someone you love is afflicted with a life-changing event, it's devastating.
38:48Yeah.
38:49It's just, it's life-changing.
38:50And now, because of the illness, is that you, you know that you have something special that you might lose soon.
39:08You do the best you can to be strong for her sake and do the best you can and looking after her and make, you know, make sure that what's left of a life, it's a good life.
39:24I am, but do you remember this?
39:26Yeah.
39:27I used to play it.
39:28I know exactly what you're talking about.
39:29I would run around.
39:30Yeah.
39:31Music is an integral part of our relationship.
39:35The piano is downstairs in our living room.
39:41And Elan is upstairs in the bed.
39:43And she can hear the piano from upstairs.
39:46So I hope that when I play it, it brings the joy.
39:54Well, hello.
40:07I'm Amanda.
40:08Hello.
40:09Hello, Amanda.
40:10Pleased to meet you.
40:11Hello, Vincenzo.
40:12Come on up.
40:14You've got some family with you over here.
40:15I do.
40:16I've got my daughters.
40:17And I'm very fortunate that they were able to join me here today.
40:21You've had a tough couple of weeks.
40:23It's quite tough.
40:24Tell me what's happened.
40:28My wife passed away.
40:32I'm very sorry.
40:36We took her into hospital at the beginning of the month.
40:40The last six nights we spent in the room with her, holding her hand while she passed,
40:48because we didn't want her to die alone.
40:50Of course.
40:51Why don't you tell me about Elan?
40:55Well, Elan was one in a, not in a million, but a hundred billion.
41:03She could sell ice to the Eskimos, even if the ice was melting.
41:10I wish you could have met her, because she was a fantastic, fantastic person.
41:18And are you going to be okay?
41:21I think so.
41:22We started this, and I want to finish this.
41:24And Elan would have loved me to finish it.
41:27Okay.
41:28And what song are you going to play for us?
41:30I'm going to play the theme from Love Story, also known as Where Do I Begin?
41:37Oh, wow.
41:42The song is one which I often play for Elan, about a love story.
41:47And, of course, we had a wonderful love story for 50 years.
41:51And so I dedicate this song to my wife, Elan.
42:21I love this.
42:38There's a particular wisdom about the way he is playing it that we don't understand yet.
42:44I wonder if this is another way that piano can help in those moments that are just too hard to nourish the soul and the heart.
43:07I'm so lucky.
43:08I'm so lucky.
43:11Real love comes over time.
43:15It comes from all the things you share throughout your life.
43:21All the moments that you spend together that are special.
43:24The love you share together, the memories that you share together,
43:28contributes to forming a wonderful, wonderful bond.
43:35She really did make me a better person.
43:37And this dream is never going to come out.
43:41No.
43:42Yeah.
43:43Yeah.
43:44Yeah.
43:45Yeah.
43:46Yeah.
43:47Yeah.
43:48Yeah.
43:49Yeah.
43:50Yeah, yeah.
43:51Yeah.
44:02I'm just so inspired by that.
44:05That's amazing.
44:06I think mum was here thank you for sharing your beautiful story with us
44:15okay thank you okay
44:20mum would have loved that
44:26there was so much heart and so much romanticism
44:36in it I think that that that people felt it people felt that connection and that
44:42story even without knowing anything about Vincenzo and him and City Recital Hall I
44:48think that would be such an incredibly beautiful thing for him to be on stage
44:53and having that moment with Elaine and their piece together
45:06I've got to be her yep she's waving at Amanda he comes out pianist my name is
45:26Alana I'm 37 years old and I live here in Sydney I work as a photographer when I'm
45:32out taking photos sometimes I have to tell people I'm not an influencer there's
45:37nothing wrong with influences I'm just like too old and like not contoured
45:41enough for that lifestyle do you know what I mean nice to meet you hug and
45:46everything hello what's your background I am half Egyptian and half Greek Cypriot but
45:52I was born here in Australia and Cypriot people know how to throw a party I mean
45:55the time I spent over there like they start frying up that halloumi cheese man I
46:00ate so much halloumi one time I was like man I gotta stop this tell me about the
46:05piano it's like the closest thing to meditation I have yet when I play it's
46:11most of the songs I want to play at chaos you will probably hear it in what I'm
46:15about to play I'm so interested to hear her play now I wonder what the chaos will be
46:20and so what are you gonna play today so I'm gonna be playing a piece of music
46:24called rush II this piece of music was basically written as a meme it's ascended
46:29into like meme status absolutely have you heard of this song rush II no I
46:33hadn't either except my son said to me who was eight at the time thank mama can
46:41you play rush II it's the most difficult piece in the world what is this rush II
46:45like I was working on the Bach Goldberg variations at the time which was like
46:49blowing my mind like no rush II that's where it's at and then there's this one
47:03video is just all computer-generated like there's no way one could possibly play it
47:09you know what I love to see the difference between someone's face when
47:36they're talking and laughing and smiling and then when they get to the piano
47:40there's a joke there's a I'm sure it happens to us too
47:43yeah with this piece it's basically a repeated E okay it goes in different
47:53octaves and goes really fast if you're gonna play those repeated notes I would
48:00keep my hand much much closer I guess the faster she goes she'll bring her fingers
48:05in a little closer
48:19I see where the chaos part comes from
48:26I find smashing the keys very relaxing I know that shouldn't make sense when I'm
48:31playing this song I feel like I'm trying to put a lid on a hot mess it's not a
48:36graceful performance it's not a poised performance but it is fun
48:42people did not come for this I promise you that whatever she's seeing in her mind she's painting this picture with music and
48:56people are just totally into
49:03it's kind of half song half tantrum that was fun to hear thank you so much Alana it was wonderful thank you thank you
49:20thank you
49:22if I attempted to dance to that I would have had a heart attack
49:26up ah I suppose to be here this is the information
49:30you keep coming straight girl what's going on I remember this place it used to be like an ice cream place or something what are we playing
49:51before we pack up the piano for the last time we've asked everyone who played here in Chinatown to meet in a vacant shop upstairs
49:58what's your background I'm half Greek Cypriot half Egyptian
50:04were you playing as well how many songs do you know on the piano little do they know two of the world's best pianists are about to pick one of them to take the final spot in a life-changing concert
50:15this is the hard bit again this is our last chance to put someone fabulous into the show
50:22we both know what it's like to put on a concert with a beginning middle and an end and now that we're seeing things more clearly we're going to have to be more specific about what we're looking for
50:34let's play chopsticks together
50:41I thought Malik has incredible potential
50:47he played this very hard piece and just had so much passion and so much fire
50:52he's also the epitome of how the piano has helped someone in their life and that's what this show is all about
51:00Simon the refugee from Syria that was like
51:07that was beautiful
51:08that stopped me in my tracks
51:09I was really moved by Jagula and that beautiful song that she
51:15with the Wiradjuri lyrics
51:18that blew my mind
51:23mine too
51:25and Vincenzo
51:27I mean that
51:29how does anyone live up to that relationship
51:31we're not really agreeing on this one
51:34yeah it's a tough one
51:36alright well while you two sort that out I'm going to gather them all
51:40this is my favorite part
51:41I know mine too I'll see you up there
51:44Chinatown brought it
51:46this one's a hard one
51:48it is
51:49this one's a really tricky one to decide
51:51the
51:52Mozart
51:53yeah
51:55yeah that one too
51:56Greek
51:57so he has one piano concerto
51:59I play it too
52:00oh come on man
52:01I played well the first movement I played
52:04well hi hi hi
52:06hi everyone
52:07hello
52:09how was to see all of you gathered here together
52:12but
52:14I haven't been completely honest with you
52:16because yes you've been performing for me
52:19and your family and friends
52:21and the shoppers and the shopkeepers
52:23you've also been performing for two of the world's best piano players
52:28oh
52:30one of Australia's greatest classical pianists
52:34she has played on the most prestigious stages all over the world
52:38the other is a Grammy winner an Emmy winner he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
52:45these two people have been hiding in a very small tourism office just behind you
52:52watching you the whole time
52:55I'd like to introduce you to Andrea Lamb and Harry Connick Jr.
53:00what?
53:01what?
53:02what?
53:08hey guys
53:09hi everybody
53:10hi
53:12amazing
53:13incredible
53:14congratulations Malik
53:16it was so good to hear you
53:17I can't believe this is happening
53:19great to meet you man
53:20good to be here
53:21I buy a house from you
53:22yeah
53:23well hopefully one day I'll just be playing piano
53:25you know that's going
53:26as with all of these performances
53:29there is such a variety of people that we would never have expected to hear
53:34you have a try at singing
53:36nobody wants to hear me sing
53:39trust me
53:40I would like to hear you
53:42to hear you play was really a profound moment for me
53:45thank you very much
53:46it means a lot
53:47it means a lot to me
53:48everyone was very taken with you
53:50I didn't know specifically who I was going to hear or what I was going to see
53:54but I knew that it wasn't only about piano skill musicianship it was about trying to communicate something that words can't do
54:01all of those things together is exactly what I'm looking for for the final concert
54:06so in addition to watching you all and not in all creepy way
54:13we have a very special surprise for all of you that we wanted to share
54:18we're planning a really big concert at the city recital hall
54:25and we would like to invite all of you to come to the concert would you like to come
54:34you're all invited
54:36and we have one final surprise
54:40we would like to ask one of you to join us in this special concert
54:47and the person that we chose is someone who's touched our hearts
54:54it's an incredible story of love and connection to the instrument
54:59and how the instrument really can be a source of so many emotions
55:04and so much solace and so much company and so much love
55:08and this person is
55:15Vincenzo thank you
55:22I think my pacemaker just skipped a bit
55:25congratulations Vincenzo
55:27I can't believe it
55:29I really can't believe it
55:30your relationship with the piano and everything that you've gone through
55:34and all the love that you and Elaine and the role of music in that
55:41don't make me cry
55:43you made all of us cry
55:44so thank you
55:45thank you
55:46congrats
55:48congrats
55:50congratulations
55:51we're so proud of you
55:52thank you so much
55:53we'll be praying for you
55:54thank you
55:55thank you
55:56thank you
55:58thank you so much
56:00I am flabbergasted
56:02I can't wait for you to tell you girls
56:04they will have to get you a new pacemaker
56:06yeah
56:07Leland would have loved it
56:09she would have been so happy
56:11it's just
56:12it's just
56:13I think I
56:14I might have levitated for a few minutes
56:18next time
56:23it's showtime
56:24DJ
56:26Andrea
56:27our five chosen pianists
56:29how are you
56:30nervous
56:31sit down with Harry and Andrea
56:33Andrea
56:34to prepare for the concert of a lifetime
56:36what a
56:37secret should have come
56:39on one of Australia's most revered stages
56:42it's so massive
56:44nerves are high
56:46I always think that I'm never quite good enough
56:49and emotions are raw
56:51I have to be careful that the emotions of the piece don't get to me too much
56:56but our everyday pianists
56:58look how many people there are
56:59alongside Harry and Andrea
57:01will present one very special event
57:05we can do this team
57:08a night to showcase and celebrate
57:10the power of the piano
57:15ladies and gentlemen