Current location:Culture Corner news portal > style
The Piano review: This show's standout performer? A romantic OAP with dementia, writes ROLAND WHITE
Culture Corner news portal2024-05-21 13:49:26【style】4People have gathered around
IntroductionRating:The Piano (Channel 4)Anybody who's ever struggled through Grade 1 scales and broken chords wi
The Piano (Channel 4)
Anybody who's ever struggled through Grade 1 scales and broken chords will tell you that playing the piano isn't as easy as it can look.
So imagine what it must be like with Lang Lang, one of the world's most renowned pianists, peering over your shoulder.
The Piano was one of the surprise hits of last year. It's essentially Britain's Got Talent for the keyboard, and the second series began last night in Manchester's Piccadilly railway station.
Which meant that one moment we were listening to the tricky third movement of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata and the next we heard that the Northern Service train to Windermere was at Platform 14.
But last night's undoubted star was modest Duncan, 80 (pictured), a retired solicitor who had a love story with a poignant twist
He and his wife, Fran (pictured), first met in 1964 but she married somebody else. They eventually found each other again, and have been married for 42 years
Now suffering from dementia, he played — from memory — a song he wrote for Fran
Claudia Winkleman (centre) presents the show with the help of Mika (right) and Lang Lang (left) as judges
At least, I think that's what she said. Sometimes it's tricky to tell with rail announcements.
It was contestant Emma who had Lang Lang hovering behind her. She'd originally played The Winner Takes It All, but the judges weren't at all impressed. Far too easy. They asked if she might play something else and she gave a flawless performance of a work by Ludovico Einaudi. Presumably unrehearsed, too.
Lang Lang, by the way, had never heard of The Winner Takes It All, and fell for Mika's joke that it was by Nirvana. The unworldly star has also never eaten a pasty, and didn't know what Marmite was.
The Piano isn't really about music, it's about good stories. First to the station's Yamaha upright was Ellis, who was raised by a single parent on a tough housing estate. He wore a hoodie and a nose ring, and is a keen boxer.
Yet he had the most delicate touch as he played Chopin's Ballade No. 4. 'One of the reasons I work so hard at the piano is that I have nothing to fall back on,' he said. Never judge by appearances.
That also applied to Brooke, who looked as if she'd arrived straight from a Love Island audition. She was tall, blonde, and could be mistaken for a beauty influencer. Yet she's studying law at university and wowed the judges with Poulenc.
First to the station's Yamaha upright was Ellis (pictured), who was raised by a single parent on a tough housing estate
Yet he had the most delicate touch as he played Chopin's Ballade No. 4. 'One of the reasons I work so hard at the piano is that I have nothing to fall back on,' he said. Never judge by appearances
The Piano was one of the surprise hits of last year. It's essentially Britain's Got Talent for the keyboard, and the second series began last night in Manchester's Piccadilly railway station
The Piano isn't really about music, it's about good stories
Were you inspired to take up the piano? Because another contestant proved you don't even need lessons. Amy taught herself from YouTube, repeating pieces until she got them right.
But last night's undoubted star was modest Duncan, 80, a retired solicitor who had a love story with a poignant twist.
He and his wife, Fran, first met in 1964 but she married somebody else. They eventually found each other again, and have been married for 42 years. Now suffering from dementia, he played — from memory — a song he wrote for Fran. A large crowd gathered to watch, and he was picked to perform in the show's final concert.
Was it the best performance? He had stiff competition, but it was certainly the most moving — and an example of how music can change lives for the better.
Address of this article:http://montserrat.majalahburung.com/news-0e199818.html
Very good!(9)
Related articles
- Lynn Williams breaks NWSL goal
- China reveals logos for four crewed space missions in 2024
- China's Shenzhou
- New energy self
- Pentagon vows to keep weapons moving to Ukraine as Kyiv faces a renewed assault by Russia
- China's AI robotic chemist synthesizes catalysts for oxygen production on Mars
- Gene Herrick, AP photographer who covered the Korean War and civil rights, dies at 97
- Cyberspace pledges set to narrow divide
- Philippines blames China for loss of giant clams in disputed shoal and urges environmental inquiry
- Feature: Chinese
Popular articles
Recommended
Six killed in a 'foiled coup' in Congo, the army says
Hong Kong's first satellite manufacturing center launched
What key recent events led to Iran's assault on Israel?
Virtual technology showcased at 2023 CIFTIS
US overdose deaths dropped in 2023, the first time since 2018
Xi Jinping meets Ma Ying
What key recent events led to Iran's assault on Israel?
Candidates from Hong Kong, Macao shortlisted for China's new taikonaut selection
Links
- New York firefighter adopts three
- Azealia Banks slammed for calling Kendrick Lamar a 'nepo baby' amid Drake feud
- AP Week in Pictures: Latin America and Caribbean
- Ryan Gosling gushes over partner Eva Mendes and brands her the 'best acting coach'
- Igor Shesterkin has the Rangers looking like a Stanley Cup contender. He says he can be better
- US jobs report for April will likely point to a slower but still
- Renowned NFL stadium architect releases images of potential new Chiefs arena
- Olivia Dunne teases fans on social media with multi
- US college protests: Over 2,000 arrested during pro
- Mo'Nique reignites years