Shine & Rach 3

When Geoffrey Rush won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of David Helfgott in the movie Shine, it was not for his skills at the piano but rather for how accurately captured Helfgott’s quirky mannerisms and behaviors. Helfgott was a man who gradually lost his mind and career but found them again with the help of a loving wife and a particular piece of music. In his isolation he found a refuge—a piece of music that became a lifelong challenge and obsession and actually one of the few reasons Helfgott carried on at the piano. That piece was Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto.

Rachmaninoff’s major works for piano and orchestra often begin with involved piano parts. His Third Piano Concerto is the exception. Have a listen to the exceedingly simple melody that opens the work:

You might imagine yourself playing the first minute of music, even if you’ve never played the piano. However, almost immediately, it turns, and the technique required becomes deceiving. What unfolds for the next 40 minutes is undoubtedly one of the most demanding concertos ever written.

Here is an early scene from the movie Shine when the young Helfgott—still a student at the Royal College of Music—commits to “Rach 3” for the Concerto Competition submission. What follows is how it consumed his heart and his life. The music heard is the massive cadenza from the first movement:

Helfgott marked this piece as his own in July 1969, when he gave an award-winning performance at RCM, while still a student. In the following video, you can see Helfgott returning to his alma mater to relive that glorious day, hear recollections about his stunning performance and learn some insight about why Rach 3 is such a monster to perform:

Unfortunately, Just before Helfgott’s career was about to launch, his life took a downward spiral, as his mentally stability declined. He underwent rigorous therapy and treatments, ultimately being admitted into a psychiatric institution. He was forced to stop playing piano for many years, leaving his promising career behind him. No one knew Helfgott had serious mental illness, so most just assumed that Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto drove him mad. We now know that Helfgott has what’s called Schizoaffective disorder, although many professionals have diagnosed him in a category of his own, since he demonstrates symptoms of multiple disorders such as Asperger’s, Tourette’s and OCD.

It ends happily. Helfgott has learned to live with his illness and maintains a somewhat normal life. He has enjoyed a prosperous and loving relationship with his wife, who is also his caretaker, and he even performs concerts—including performing at the Oscars in 1997, when Rush won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Helfgott.

Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto has a powerful effect on both audiences and performers alike. The work is not just a career piece, but a piece for a lifetime. It can be like a mentor, pushing pianists to reach new limits and challenge the body’s endurance, but it can also be a great friend, beautiful enough to take someone out of the darkest places of their mind.

In August 2016, Helfgott and Rush reunited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Shine. Helfgott’s happy life and marriage are clear to see, and his passion for Rach 3 remains strong.

The beauty and musicianship of Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto is not to be missed! Hear George Li bring youthful energy and masterful technique to his performances of this masterpiece when he joins the NJSO Dec 5–8.

» Info & Tickets

Post by Michael Rosin