David Helfgott in an interview

"My music is my life."

David Helfgott is a living Australian legend. Even at the age of five, David demonstrated a rare gift for piano playing. Unfortunately, his situation deteriorated around 1970 when illness swept through his life for more than a decade. In the early 1980s, things finally began to change. David met Gillian and within a year had made a triumphant return to the world of classical piano. In 1996, Shine, inspired by David's life, had an enormous impact on audiences and his life. Since then, David has toured more than 37 countries, captivating and enchanting audiences worldwide.

In the following interview, David Helfgott talks about his time as a piano student, his inspirations, and about Rachmaninoff.

Classicpoint.net: As a piano student at the Royal College of Music in London, you were celebrated as brilliant and received many awards. Do you remember that time?
Yes, very well. They were very exciting years, and I studied with the renowned Professor Cyril Smith. He had met Rachmaninoff personally and performed his concertos, so his knowledge allowed me to immerse myself deeply in these magnificent concertos and to better grasp the spirit of Rachmaninoff. The highlight at the Royal College of Music was the award-winning performance of Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto with Robert Gillman, who played the orchestral part on a second piano in 1969. That is one of my most cherished memories of my college days.

In the 1970s, you had a major crisis and a nervous breakdown. You later said that you lost your inner musical voice and got it back after six years. What exactly happened then?
It was a sad and lonely time for me; "my music" was shrouded in fog, and I was confined to psychiatric institutions for almost twelve years. That changed when I started playing at Riccardo's wine bar, and that's where I met my future wife, Gillian. My music returned, and with it, a renewed joy in playing and in life. We got married, and then I felt safe.

You are now 73 years old. How many concerts do you still play each year?
I still give about 30 concerts every year, some of them overseas, which is wonderful, and I would like to continue playing forever. In addition, I regularly play for three or four local charities, also together with the youth orchestra in Bellingen, where I am a mentor. The orchestra has grown from 15 players 12 years ago to 90 today, and it is truly a joy to make music with these inspiring young people.

How do you cope with the stress of travel?
On a plane, I listen to music, watch movies, and I'm very happy that Gillian and my stepson Scott travel with me everywhere overseas, so I'm very well looked after. The cabin crew are always so nice to me too, so I feel very comfortable even on a plane or at the airport.

Which of today's successful pianists do you admire and find inspiring?
I am a true romantic at heart, so the older pianists, namely Rubenstein and Horowitz, were my main inspiration. But Kissin, and for example his performances of the Chopin concertos recorded in his younger years, I find very inspiring.

What does music mean to you?
Everything. It's my life, my passion, my being, and my friend. When I was a little boy, my father told me that if I had my music, I would never truly be lonely.

If you could have one wish, what would it be?
I've had everything and more than I could ever have imagined. I've performed in Europe, Asia, Russia, America, Africa, the UK, Canada, and of course, all over Australia and New Zealand. I make my living doing what I love, surrounded by the love and support of my managers, my family, and my friends, and I feel incredibly blessed by it.

Are you afraid of anything?
"Do not be afraid, for I am with you" is a saying that has stayed with me, and although little things can annoy me, I'm not afraid of life's big challenges. I find nature a great comfort to me, and I watch the sunset every evening.

Do you play the piano differently today than when you were young?
The great challenges I faced in the 70s and early 80s helped me to play with more maturity, and the joy of my later years has given my performances more poetry.
A conductor who has known me since childhood and recently attended a concert with me wrote about my playing: "I think he plays better than ever."

Can you describe your feelings when you listen to and play music?
My music is my life. I listen to music all day long; it's my companion and my inspiration. Recently, while I was sleeping on a flight to Europe, Scott put on the Rachmaninoff symphonies for me, and when I woke up and heard the music, I felt like I had arrived in heaven. It was pure bliss, and this is the gift that music gives me. It fills my soul, and that's what I want to share with my audience.

Interview by Florian Schär | Classicpoint.net | May 1, 2022