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Oriana's The Piano Men An Exhilarating Delight

Oriana Choir
Apr 6
3 min read

The Sunshine Coast’s Oriana Choir is nothing if not resilient!

Following the disappointment and anti-climax of a cancelled performance at Matthew Flinders last Saturday, Oriana Choir were determined that this weekend’s performances at The J in Noosa would be something special.

And they delivered in spades! With two performances of The Piano Men: The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John to sell-out houses, they thrilled and delighted their audiences with two hours of tight, polished and vibrant renditions of the greatest hits and favourites from these icons of piano-driven popular music.

The opening number, which could not have been anything but Billy Joel’s signature “Piano Man”, really set the scene, with an instantly recognisable rendition of the classic song that defined the programme, and established an air of expectancy that did not disappoint. The audience was captive from the outset.

“Piano Man” was followed by “I’m Still Standing” and “It’s Still Rock’n’Roll to Me”, both great, high-energy numbers superbly delivered. From then on, the energy never flagged, and the show was a continuous parade of universally loved songs, presented in a well-balanced mix of full choir and solo performances.

The entire programme, including all the choreography, was conceived and put together by the supremely talented Elisabeth Wallis Gaedtke. Not only did she choose the songs, but she decided which numbers would best suit a choral arrangement, and which would be more appropriate as solo performances. Then, with unerring accuracy, she matched soloist with song, and in every instance, the match was just right. Every solo performer was utterly convincing in the delivery of their song. And Elisabeth’s sequencing of the songs gave the programme its own internal logic which felt natural, and inherently satisfying.

The singers were more than ably supported by the Oriana Band, a hand-picked ensemble of excellent players, led by piano maestro Scott Gaedtke. They provided a consistently excellent and faithful re-creation of each song’s original arrangement, while remaining uniquely themselves, supporting choristers and soloists alike with strength, subtlety and sensitivity.

There were so many highlights in this wonderful show that it almost seems unfair to single any out at the expense of the others. But mention has to be made of Oriana’s incomparable a cappella singing, which shone in beautiful renditions of Billy Joel’s “And So It Goes” and “Lullaby”. The men of Oriana had a ball delivering “For the Longest Time” and an exhilarating “Uptown Girl”. The quartet’s “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word” was a marvel of harmonic blending and emotional connection, and the Sunshine Coast Youth Choir delighted with “I Just Can’t Wait to be King” from The Lion King. They joined Oriana for the finale, a medley of Elton John classics, from “Rocket Man” to “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”.

One patron at last night’s show sent Oriana a text message:

“So, I had a question on my mind leading up to tonight’s performance. “How can they top last year’s performance of Dancing Queen?” Well, you did! It was a fabulous evening. We loved every minute!”

If the frequency and volume of the applause at yesterday’s performances are any sort of guide, this sentiment was verging on universal.

The Piano Men has surely been one of Oriana’s finest moments.

If you missed seeing this marvellous show, there are still seats available for the rescheduled performance at Matthew Flinders Performance Centre on Saturday, April 26, at 2.00 pm. But you’ll have to book early, because after this weekend’s sold-out shows, this one is sure to go the same way.

Ian Rix

April 6, 2025

The Piano Men: Billy Joel and Elton John

Saturday, 26 April 2025, 2:00pm – Matthew Flinders Performance Centre, Buderim