Current location:politics >>
The Piano review: This show's standout performer? A romantic OAP with dementia, writes ROLAND WHITE
politics447People 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.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Cultural Current news portal”。http://nigeria.bahnsport.org/news-0e199818.html
Related articles
Rays opening day starter Zach Eflin placed on 15
politicsST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays placed opening day starter Zach Eflin on the 15-day i ...
【politics】
Read moreChina Focus: China Aims to Enhance Barrier
politicsContact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom ...
【politics】
Read morePeople Celebrate Miao Sisters Festival in SW China's Guizhou
politicsContact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom ...
【politics】
Read more
Popular articles
- It's no wonder parents are taking their children on holiday during term time! Sky
- Cultural and Natural Heritage Day Marked Across China
- Maternity Insurance Coverage to Be Expanded
- Medical Team from Guangdong Provides Home Services in Tibet
- Hilarious moment mother asks her Cocker Spaniel to help choose her lottery numbers
- China Opens 382 New Museums in 2022
Latest articles
Judge orders man accused of opening fire outside Wrigley Field held without bail
China Continues to Raise Basic Pension Payments for Retirees
China Opens 382 New Museums in 2022
China Unveils 10 National
DR MARTIN SCURR: How losing your hearing may cause dementia
Cultural and Natural Heritage Day Marked Across China
LINKS
- Across China: National Fitness Day Events Held Nationwide to Promote Healthy Living
- 2022 China Int'l Travel Mart Kicks off in Kunming
- China to Further Improve Services for Village Residents
- 40th Anniversary of China National Children's Center Celebrated in Beijing
- China Moves to Further Integrate Medical and Elderly Care Services
- China's Pre
- Silk Road Int'l Expo Pushes for Deeper Belt and Road Cooperation
- Fruit Planting Helps Improve Environment and Villagers' Income in SW China's Chongqing
- 2nd China International Consumer Products Expo Opens in Hainan
- World Robot Conference 2022 Held in Beijing