An unexpected turn of events unfolded during a live performance of La La Land in concert, when an audience member heroically stepped in for a pianist who fell ill mid-show.
In Sydney, 21-year-old Sterling Nasa found himself attending a unique concert where a live orchestra performed the film’s enchanting score as the movie played on screen. The evening was progressing seamlessly until intermission brought an unforeseen announcement.
At that moment, Justin Hurwitz, the Oscar-winning composer and conductor of the performance, informed the audience of the pianist’s sudden illness, creating an urgent need for a replacement to continue the show.
In an unusual appeal, Hurwitz turned to the audience, inquiring if anyone had the ability to play the piano and sight-read music. In a moment of serendipity, Nasa volunteered, sparking a wave of applause from the crowd.
He confidently took to the stage, stepping into the keyboardist’s shoes, and delivered a commendable performance, completing the piano part for the remainder of the concert.
Despite his skills in playing the piano, organ, and even tutoring bagpipes at his former school, Nasa admitted to ABC Radio that he was initially hesitant when Hurwitz posed the critical question.
‘I was a little bit tentative,’ he said, ‘I do owe a lot of the experience to my friend, Scarlett, who sort of … put my hand up for me.
‘But I did end up finding the confidence and it was a very good decision to go down and volunteer myself.’
During the intermission, the film’s Oscar-winning composer and conductor, Justin Hurwitz, revealed that the pianist had fallen ill
The crowd erupted in applause as Nasa volunteered
Nasa, a longtime fan of Hurwitz’s work, said it was an unforgettable experience to play one of his favourite soundtracks
He was especially nervous about playing the piece Start a Fire by John Legend, which is a difficult and intricate solo.
‘I saw it on the score and I thought, oh, I don’t know if I’m going to be able to sight-read that in one go,’ he said.
However, he took a leap of faith and ended up improvising, earning him a standing ovation from the audience.
Hurwitz, speaking to the Guardian Australia, called Nasa’s feat ‘remarkable.’
‘That is a whole other skill on top of sight-reading. To be able to play a really cool solo in the right key, in the right scale, on the fly with no rehearsal,’ he said.
The composer said he was careful to make sure the 21-year-old wasn’t simply overconfident, asking him several follow-up questions before allowing him to take the stage. In the end, however, his trust paid off.
Nasa, a longtime fan of Hurwitz’s work, said it was an unforgettable experience to play one of his favourite soundtracks.
‘It was quite a blessing to get to play a work that I’m in such admiration of,’ he said.
Audience member Maddie Corwin, who filmed the viral moment, told CNN that it was a ‘unique’ experience, adding that she had ‘never seen a professional production just stop and ask if anyone in the audience can step in and perform.’
She said the audience was rooting for Nasa, and that he did a great job.
‘Everything completely flowed and meshed and you couldn’t tell really that there was any disruption,’ she added.
Corwin said that the experience ‘exemplified what La La Land is about… artists chasing their dreams.’
Nasa, who studies politics and international studies at the University of Sydney, has no current plans to pursue a professional career in music.
However, Hurwitz said he definitely has the talent for that path in life.
‘I don’t know what he’s most passionate about,’ Hurwitz said.
‘Maybe he likes international relations a little more than music. But that’s what La La Land is about. You’ve got to do what you love the most.’
