Piano Lessons By Anna Goldsworthy: A Beautiful Insight Into The Mind of a Music Student – Adelaide Cabaret Festival Review

Space Theatre, Sat 6 Jun Piano Lessons by the stunning concert pianist Anna Goldsworthy, along with an excellent portrayal of her Russian piano teacher performed by Helen Howard, is a beautiful, moving and enthralling insight into the mind of a musical student. We are privy to the message of how these lessons transposed into life lessons for her as she grows with her beloved teacher over a decade of learning and beyond. Adapted from the award-winning novel of the same name, Anna performs, in the context of the personal recollection of her childhood, several sublime pieces from a repertoire including Liszt, Chopin, Mozart and Debussy. The relationship between the two is realistic, and very often humorous, as Anna shares some of the idiosyncrasies of her strict, sometimes unforgiving and always passionate teacher who stumbled accidentally into her life at the age of nine. The way their relationship grows, the meaning behind what music can become beyond mere notes on a page, is conveyed beautifully to the layperson in such as sense that you feel as though you will leave the theatre having a greater patience and knowledge when next listening to your own music at home. The intrinsic inside information her teacher, Mrs Savonne, shares with her young student about how to look further within the music and to understand the life of the composer in order to know how best to play honestly, is moving, interesting, and fascinating. The musical prowess of Goldsworthy is simply divine; the Space creates a beautiful room which our audience remained totally silent for the un-amplified and raw dialogue between the two. A wonderful story with an equally wonderful ending, having Anna as one of Adelaide’s own and understanding references to Elder Hall, and various concert venues around the city also makes you feel intimately proud and in awe all at once, as though somehow her talent and skill can be also attained simply because she too hails from somewhere we all know so well. Beautiful for ages ten and over, this is a beautiful story for anyone interested in any kind of artistic growth, music, or simply a love of excellent dramatics and storytelling. Sian Williams Piano Lessons By Anna Goldsworthy continues at Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre, at various times until Mon 8 Jun. Book at BASS on 131 246 and bass.net.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets.