David Helfgott facts for kids

David Helfgott OAM (born 19 May 1947) is a famous Australian concert pianist. His life story inspired the movie Shine, which won an Academy Award. In the film, different actors played David at various ages, including Geoffrey Rush as the adult David.

Biography

Early life and studies

David Helfgott was born in Melbourne, Australia. His parents, Rachel and Elias Peter Helfgott, were from Poland. From a young age, David showed amazing talent for playing the piano. He won several important music competitions in Australia, including the state final of the ABC Instrumental and Vocal Competition.

Later, David went to London to study at the Royal College of Music. There, he continued to win awards for his piano playing. One of his most notable performances was of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3, a very difficult piece.

Returning to Australia

While he was studying in London, David began to face challenges with his mental health. He returned to Perth, Australia, in 1970. The next year, he married Claire Papp. He worked as a rehearsal pianist for the Western Australian Opera Company, helping singers practice their parts.

In 1983, David's brother, Les Helfgott, helped him find a job playing piano at a wine bar in Perth. There, he met a doctor named Chris Reynolds, who played a big part in helping David. Dr. Reynolds also introduced him to Gillian Murray, who David married in 1984.

The film Shine

David Helfgott's life story became the subject of the 1996 film Shine. The movie showed his early life, his incredible musical talent, and his struggles with mental health. Geoffrey Rush played David as an adult, Noah Taylor played him as a teenager, and Alex Rafalowicz played him as a child.

Some parts of the film caused discussion among David's family. His brother Les and his first wife Claire Papp felt that their father, Peter Helfgott, was not shown accurately in the movie. They said that David remained close to his family after returning to Australia and that his father was concerned for his well-being, not "overbearing" as the film suggested.

Musical career today

David Helfgott loves to play Romantic music, especially pieces by composers like Mussorgsky, Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Liszt, Schumann, and Rimsky-Korsakov.

Some music critics have had different opinions about his performances. While many people enjoy his concerts, some critics have described his playing as sometimes "erratic." Others have questioned how his music was presented to the public, suggesting it focused too much on his personal struggles rather than just his musical talent.

When David performs, he has a unique style. He often talks to the audience or makes sounds while playing. One critic, Anthony Tommasini, noted that David "stares into the hall and renders a nonstop commentary of grunts, groans and mutterings." Despite these comments, David continues to perform and tour.

He even played piano on the Silverchair song "Emotion Sickness". David tours Australia every year and also plays concerts in other countries. A documentary called Hello, I Am David! was made about his 2015 European tour.

Personal life

David Helfgott lives in a place called The Promised Land, which is a valley near Bellingen in New South Wales. His second wife, Gillian, passed away in 2022. In an interview from 2016, Gillian shared that David had been diagnosed with autism and that she believed his earlier mental health diagnoses were not completely accurate.

Discography

Albums

Awards and nominations

David Helfgott has received several honors for his contributions to music. In 2004, he was given an honorary doctorate of music by Edith Cowan University. In 2021, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia, which is a special recognition from his home country.

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are important awards in Australia that celebrate great music.

Mo Awards

The Mo Awards were Australian awards that recognized achievements in live entertainment.

See also

In Spanish: David Helfgott para niños