• Diana Newell, 88, made her Royal Albert Hall debut performing her own composition, “Dreams.”
• She played with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra under conductor Mark Wigglesworth at Classic FM Live at 25.
• The piece, arranged for strings by Rosie Danvers, is dedicated to her late husband Phil.
Octogenarian pianist fulfils lifelong dream at Royal Albert Hall
Diana Newell, the octogenarian pianist who won Channel 4’s The Piano, made a headline-making Royal Albert Hall debut aged 88. The performance came during Classic FM Live at 25 this October, when Newell performed her own composition, “Dreams,” accompanied by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Mark Wigglesworth.
Arranged for strings by Rosie Danvers, “Dreams” is Newell’s first major work since she began composing after developing arthritis in her hands. The piece is dedicated to her late husband, Phil, and the performance marked a poignant moment in a musical life that began with childhood lessons in violin, piano and organ.
Watch: ‘Dreams’ – Diana Newell (YouTube)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-xg-cmudtg
A new chapter after arthritis: composing that adapts to the hands
After years of playing Chopin, Beethoven and other classical staples, Newell faced a setback when arthritis limited her ability to perform the repertoire she had long practised. Rather than give up, she adapted: she turned to composition and created music that suited her changing technique.
“It is difficult not to be able to play my pieces that I used to play. But, on the other hand, you’ve got to move on if you want to continue to play,” Newell told Classic FM. Her adaptive approach allowed her to continue sharing music and, ultimately, to reach the Royal Albert Hall stage.
From railway-station discovery to the South Kensington stage
Newell became a public figure after winning series three of Channel 4’s The Piano, a show that finds hidden pianists performing in railway stations across Britain. Her win led to a concert debut at the Royal Festival Hall aged 87, and now, a year later, the Royal Albert Hall debut completed a remarkable late-life ascent.
The Classic FM Live concert also featured performances by Sir Bryn Terfel, Sir John Rutter, violinist Esther Abrami and composer in residence Debbie Wiseman OBE, making it a varied evening of high-profile classical talent.
Broadcast and legacy
Classic FM Live at 25 will be broadcast on Sky Arts, giving a wider audience the chance to hear Newell’s composition and witness her milestone. For many, Newell’s story is inspirational proof that musical dreams can be realised at any age: from childhood lessons, through public discovery, to composing and performing on one of Britain’s most famous stages.
“Never give up on your dreams,” Newell said. “I’m living mine now.” Her Royal Albert Hall debut is a reminder that perseverance and creativity can open new chapters, even when the path changes.
Image Referance: https://www.classicfm.com/events/classic-fm-live/diana-newell-debut-royal-albert-hall/
