The pianist from the audience at La La Land in Concert was a global feelgood story – but all was not what it seemed

<p>Two orchestra members from the Sydney performance allege tensions behind the scenes were the cause of pianist failing to appear after intermission</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>When an audience member stepped in for a pianist at a Sydney performance of La La Land in Concert last month it made global headlines.</p><p>During the intermission of the concert at Darling Harbour Theatre on 30 May, the two-time Oscar-winning composer and conductor Justin Hurwitz <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/01/audience-member-replaces-ill-keyboardist-sydney-la-land-justin-hurwitz">appealed to the 2,000-strong crowd for an “amazing sight-reader”</a>, saying one of his two keyboardists had fallen ill.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/24/the-pianist-from-the-audience-at-la-la-land-in-concert-was-a-global-feelgood-story-but-all-was-not-what-it-seemed">Continue reading...</a>