Categoria: News

George Michael’s grand piano sells for £200k at auction

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A piano once owned by George Michael has raised a staggering amount of cash for music charity Nordoff Robbins. The organisation held their annual star-studded auction during the 2022 Silver Clef Awards. One of the most talked about moments came when George’s prized Bechstein grand piano was on the lot, and went under the hammer for a brilliant £200,000. Before it was auctioned off, the piano was played by blind and autistic pianist Derek Paravicini, who performed Cowboys and Angels during the awards ceremony. The auction was virtual, which meant anyone around the world could bid on taking home a piece of music history. 

George Michael won his own Silver Clef prize in 1989 for his outstanding contribution to UK music. During that year’s event, George bid a large amount of money on a guitar, which he then re-donated to be auctioned off again the following year. 

The piano was provided by George’s Estate, who said they were proud to be able to continue his legacy with Nordoff Robbins. They explained in a statement:

“George supported many charitable and philanthropic causes during his lifetime which his Estate will continue to do in his memory. We hope that the return of the O2 Silver Clef lunch after a two-year absence will be a huge success and that the piano will raise a substantial amount of money to help continue this vital work after the toughest couple of years for the sector that most of us can remember.”

In total, the Silver Clef Awards raised £750,000 for Nordoff Robbins, meaning more money to help those most vulnerable with music therapy. 

George Michael’s personal piano to be auctioned for music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins

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Nordoff Robbins, the UK’s largest music therapy charity, is delighted to announce that a piano personally owned by pop icon George Michael will be auctioned during its prestigious O2 Silver Clef Award ceremony on Friday 1st July. The live auction will be open to George Michael fans from across the world (join here https://theauctioncollective.com/auctions/george-michaels-piano/), as well as artists, celebrities and supporters attending the event.

Since the 1980s, George’s music, generosity and legacy has inspired people around the world. By auctioning this piano, it will help Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy to reach more people through the power of music, helping them to connect and communicate regardless of disability, illness or social exclusion.

The Bechstein Grand piano, which George fell in love with and bought, stood in his home in Highgate, London, for many years. It has been generously donated to Nordoff Robbins by George Michael’s Estate, and continues the global star’s renowned charitable legacy and his association with the music therapy charity that he supported throughout his career.

In 1989, when George Michael was just 27-years-old, he was honoured with Nordoff Robbins’ iconic Silver Clef Award for his outstanding contribution to UK music. When he picked up his award that year, during the charity auction his typical generosity saw him bid a substantial sum for a guitar – which he immediately gave straight back to be auctioned again the following year.

George Michael’s Estate said: “We are proud on behalf of George Michael to be able to continue his support of Nordoff Robbins.

George supported many charitable and philanthropic causes during his lifetime which his Estate will continue to do in his memory. We hope that the return of the O2 Silver Clef lunch after a two-year absence will be a huge success and that the piano will raise a substantial amount of money to help continue this vital work after the toughest couple of years for the sector that most of us can remember.”

The O2 Silver Clef Awards are held to recognise and celebrate the talent of the winning artists. Since 1976, through the power of music, the awards have raised over £11 million for Nordoff Robbins’ vital music therapy and honoured some of the greatest names in music, with the most recent event in 2019 raising a record-breaking £1m.

David Austin, who George Michael described as his ‘best friend’ and long-time collaborator, is creating a short film to showcase the piano, including shots of the iconic musician playing the piano in his Highgate home.

Talented pianist Derek Paravicini will give a very special performance of one of George’s most loved songs on the piano in the room before it is auctioned live by online specialists, The Auction Collective, during the O2 Silver Clef Award ceremony. Blind and autistic, Derek is pitch perfect and can play any piece of music after hearing it only once. The proceeds of the piano auction, along with other items being sold, will deliver a huge fundraising boost to Nordoff Robbins, enabling its trained music therapists to support some of the most vulnerable people in the UK.

Nordoff Robbins believes that everyone should have access to the value of music. Its music therapists use the power of music to connect with some of the most isolated people in our society – working with children and adults affected by life-limiting illness such as dementia, learning disabilities including autism, physical disability and mental health issues. Nordoff Robbins’ music therapists work with over 270 schools, hospitals, hospices and care homes, as well as providing sessions from its centres across the UK.

Sandra Schembri, CEO of Nordoff Robbins said: “We are extraordinarily grateful to George Michael’s Estate for donating such a wonderful instrument. George Michael’s legacy is huge – not only in terms of his contribution to music, but also his kindness and generosity when it comes to helping others. We were proud to honour George with our Silver Clef Award back in 1989 and he continued to support us throughout his career. This auction will be made extra special by Derek’s performance – ensuring that those in the room and across the world can hear George Michael’s beautiful music being played once again on his piano. Derek shows us how much music matters to connect everyone and help fulfil their human potential. We hope this year’s auction and ceremony will be our biggest fundraising event yet, as our work with vulnerable and isolated children and adults is needed now more than ever.”

George Michael Freedom Uncut is getting a global cinema release

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Sony Music Entertainment and Trafalgar Releasing have announced a June 22 release date for the autobiographical feature documentary, which is narrated by the late superstar artist.

 

George Michael was heavily involved in the making of the documentary before his tragic death in 2016. This 108-minute version has 17 minutes of extra footage that didn’t appear in the Channel 4 cut of George Michael Freedom.  

 

Details of participating countries and cinemas will be listed on

georgemichaelfreedomuncut.com

from April 27.

The film covers the turbulent period after Faith leading up to, during and after the making of his Listen Without Prejudice: Vol 1 album in 1990. 

 

“George Michael Freedom Uncut is also a brilliant reminder of Michael’s outstanding musical genius during the Wham! years and throughout his solo career,” said the announcement. “The film features timeless duets with George’s favourite artists and explores how he influenced the cultural landscape of his generation as one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time.” 

 

Interwoven with exclusive, personal archival footage, the theatrical release includes previously unseen footage from Freedom! ’90. The music video has been recently remastered in 4K and will screen in full ahead of the main feature in cinemas worldwide. 

 

The feature documentary is produced by Big Geoff Overseas Limited in conjunction with Sony Music Entertainment, and distributed theatrically worldwide by Trafalgar Releasing.

 

David Austin, co-producer, collaborator and manager for George Michael, said: “The film is George’s final work. Narrated by George himself, it is the complete story.”

 

“George Michael was an inspiring artist whose story deserves to be shared on the big screen globally,” said Tom Mackay, president, premium content, Sony Music Entertainment. “In honour of George’s birthday this June, we are thrilled to be working with David Austin and our partners at Trafalgar Releasing to bring fans unprecedented access to his extraordinary life both on and off stage.”

 

Marc Allenby, CEO of Trafalgar Releasing, added: “We are proud to be bringing George Michael’s final work to the big screen in this global cinema event. As an artist whose music continues to resonate across generations, this event will be a fitting tribute to George’s life and career, giving fans the opportunity to celebrate communally in cinemas worldwide.”

 

Contributors include George Michael, Stevie Wonder, Sir Elton John, Ricky Gervais, Nile Rodgers, Mark Ronson, Tracey Emin, Liam Gallagher, Mary J. Blige, Jean Paul Gaultier, James Corden, Tony Bennett, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista and Tatjana Patitz.

 

Source: Music Week