Brazilian pianist, Eliane Rodrigues, LITERALLY taking the performance below the stage! 

The audiences got way more than they paid for.

I was one of the guys on stage who helped moving the piano and her chair. It's actually the first time I see this video. The reason for this intermezzo was a piece of paper stuck in the pedal, so that is was activated without pressing. It still remains a mistery who put it there and why. We were relieved it ended well :) Eliane handled it really well and professionally.

Amazing. She turned a potential crisis into a memorable moment that will be remembered far longer than the rest of the concert! Important to remember when something unexpected happens especially in front of an audience.

well done. many musicians would have been so pissed off and walked. this lady did a great job and carried on entertaining. every body in the audience will remember this forever. bravo.

It's so nice that the technicians also supported her improvisation

When they are taking away your plate for the next course but you have not finished eating...

When you're a professional, you don't have tantrums. You take everything in your stride. A true professional who can cope with any eventuality. Well done to the staff for resolving it too.

Superbly handled on her part! Specifically: • no embarrassing wait while the backstage people sort it out: it's considerate to them • audience are entertained, not bored/worried/impatient • distracts her from being stressed about the situation, so when it's time to start again, she can just go ahead and play • builds a rapport with the audience, so there'll be a good connection between the performer and the listeners during the rest of the concert. In other words, she performs as a true professional, with good grace, and everyone wins.

She is an extremely talented pianist, and an example of true grace under fire

That was so unbelievable. I'm a musician and I'm really not sure how I would have handled that. The utmost praise and respect for them all! The audience was terrific.

Being able to turn what could have easily become a 'money back' scenario into a life affirming, hilarious and totally endearing experience for everyone concerned - that's professionalism personified. well done Eliane.

This lady is Brazilian, and she understands that the arts are entertainment. She is a natural communicator and she deals with the whole situation with creative aplomb. I love her!

she literally just played the piano while taking a walk, going into the garage, going back up the elevator, and then running back to the starting point. 10/10 this is why I pay for the internet

I thought she handled that so professionally, no hissy fit or tantrum , took it as you would have hoped, calmly, and entertained the audience too..... it brought a big smile to my face... At the end I wanted to hear the piece in full......

I’m uncertain why there are any thumbs down on this video. Grace, professionalism, laughter, beauty; I don’t see how a thumbs down is possible.

Brazilian being brazilian, we never lose the opportunity to laugh at our problems

Being a piano mover I know exactly what was wrong with the piano. It's called a Pitman rod, and it is part of the sustain mechanism. The rod became separated from the armature while moving the piano on it's side. I have fixed thousands of Pitman rods over the 22 years I have moved pianos. I always play a few notes or even a song or two to check that the rod has not come free or stuck in the sustain mode/position as it was here. The rod could have come out completely and then would have not been able to sustain at all because it couldn't raise the dampers. Both situations can happen. As it was, her piano was in constant sustain thus the rod had come out an jammed the sustain arm in the up position and kept the dampers from coming down and muting the strings as they normally should. Had I been at the concert, I wonder if I would have had the nerve to speak up and suggest that I could fixed the problem in about 45 seconds as I have done this thousands of times. I suppose I would a spoken up as I love to fix problems no matter what the situation. A problem I run into occasionally when my wife has a issue at work and I try to fix it for her, when all she wants to do is vent, and for me to just shut up and listen!

I want to be this positive and comfortable in my skin.

Literally " The Show Must Go On".

The show must go on! She is a musical genius.

Literally, a very moving performance.

She made it look like it was staged. What an amazing lady.

That's not just a great musician, it's a great entertainer. She turned what could have been embarrassing or just boredom for the audience into a truly memorable night.

That was brilliant she was so gracious to continue to entertain the audience while waiting for another piano! I’m recovering from cancer haven’t taken several rounds of chemo was feeling a little low in my spirits as I still have so many of the side effects of the chemo causing a lot of joint pain and neuropathy but I have to see in this video I felt so encouraged that in the face of anything we just do the best we can with a smile! Thank you so much for posting it will definitely be a video I will repeatedly watch to keep my spirits up and to remind me that life is wonderful when you have a positive attitude🙏🏽👍🏽🙌🏽

She has the spirit of a confident, whimsical 12 year old girl and I absolutely adore it!

That woman has a good sense of humor! Some musicians would throw a fit. And she's also a master at improvisation obviously. Not just in music, but in life.

She even helps push the piano... in heels and a tight dress! And doesn't even pause to catch her breath, just starts her scheduled piece. What an example of grace under pressure!

She's brilliant! I LOVE her!Other musicians would kick up a fuss but she got on with it with such amazing good humor.It's Hard to believe this is happening.A true artist!

This video radietes the most "the show must go on " energy

I wish the techs had thought to turn on a smoke machine for the resurrection.

I’m seeing this 5 years later, and it’s just what I needed to make my day! Beautiful lady, brilliant musician with grace under fire!

I've never seen anything like this! Eliane wins the internet; the audience has a story to tell for a lifetime.

She lost the monumental opportunity to play the Titanic theme while going down.

Ive watched this 5 times in a row and each time i do i learn a different life lesson. This women is CLASS....

A true pro. To watch the performance you would have thought it was staged, how she adapts and continue to play was an amazing feat physically and emotionally . Job well done.

Unbelievable…she never stopped playing! What a true professional & human being. I hope she got a standing ovation or two! She was wonderful. 🌹

Absolutely brilliant ! This is called the ultimate in professionalism, making the best of a situation .....and keeping the audience happy. She could have just stayed off stage while the instrument was replaced but this lady made a memorable moment out of it.

What a glorious woman. Some would have gone into full diva rant mode, but this lady is not just a brilliant pianist, but also has a great sense of fun. Hats off to her.

She is such a magnificent pianist! And with a beautiful, bright, sparkling personality. Just love her!!

There's where you learn that music is more than just playing music, is art. And art is when an artist do art.

She's familiar enough with what to do it makes me wonder if she's worked as a hand at some point. Worked as a stage tech years ago and most performers would be completely ignorant of what to do in this scenario, but she handled it with an easy grace and know how that only comes with familiarity. Good stuff, algorithm. Good stuff.

What she did is an exemplary metaphor that applies to all of us: She remains calm and composed despite the unfavorable situation. She doesn't give in to anger, nor does she blame anyone or anything for the situation. She remains rational and sees the situation with opportunity. She believes in her skills and abilities more than the piano itself. Above all, she remains humble, knowing that she is in the presence of a situation beyond her control. She lets go of her own ego and adapt to the circumstances, and finds joy in the situation. There's so many talented and skilled people out there. But not many possess her spirit and attitude.

oh to have that level of stage comfort😭so amazing

It was a once in a lifetime incident and rather than sending everybody home they had an evening they’ll never forget , and so will she ..she was a real trooper

That's the classiest "Elevator Music" I've ever heard!

BRILLIANT! This is called a true genius at work! She never stops playing even though her piano not working well and being replaced!

Wow, a masterclass of selfcontrol, humbleness and joy.

I feel the joy she shares when she's playing... she really becomes the music. So inspiring

Can we all appreciate the fact during all this she doesn't miss a note not one

O MY GOD I WAS THERE IN THE AUDIENCE

They should open all piano recitals with the piano coming up from below the stage like that! I Iove it! Love her "Show must go on!" attitude and her sense of humor! 👏

Well that's a performance no one present will ever forget. True professional.

First piece was Arabesque No. 1 by Debussey Second was Carnival Jest by Schumann

She put the entertainment of the audience before herself. In all respects the consummate professional.

Excelente pianista. Os brasileiros brilham para todo o mundo.

What a professional and so talented lady. A true musician. I am so impressed the way she handled it

Awww.....she is absolutely lovely and what a pro! I adore her wonderful sense of humor as much as her mastery!! Loved the way she began playing Debussy's beautiful Arabesque and even continued playing other excerpts as they were sliding the piano across the floor, then lowering it under the stage and back again! FABULOUS!!! The audience loved her and so did I! BRAVO! ~Jackie

I've worked in many concertsin my time, but I've never seen a musician handle a problem in such a delghtful manner.

Una vera artista che ha saputo conquistare il suo pubblico dimostrandosi spiritosa e al tempo stesso un’ottima pianista! BRAVA!

That's the Brazilian spirit! Always find a way to have fun in any situation! :)

This is one of the best piano videos I have ever watched.

If there is a "consummate performer award", surely Eliane Rodrigues has earned it here!! Her smile never breaks, and she's vamping the whole time, completely engaged with the audience, who clearly loved the downtime show as much as the planned program.

I've watched this several times now, this lady is absolutely delightful.

Wowwww!!!!! A Eliane é incrível!! Que talento, simpatia, destreza com o piano e entrosamento com o público....adorei a forma como ela reagiu diante esse problema técnico e fez um baita show! Que pianista sensacional! Parabéns!

This kind of shit happens when you miss a day at school.

I love how she just rolled with that situation. Literally and figuratively👈😃👉 ☝️😉

What an absolute legend Eliane. Very enjoyable to watch and no doubt the show was perfection

The show must go on! FANTASTIC!! What a great entertainer she is! Brava!

What a brilliant musician - not just her playing ability (which was excellent), but her whole making a joke of it, not being thrown by the glitch and not being a total and utter diva and drama queen! Shame the whole concert wasn't posted! Wish I'd have been there for such a wonderful performance all round!

She went down with the piano but I knew she'd be Bach.

I must say...that was a very moving piece she played...

This lady is so much fun. Totally different vibes from most professionals when they're on stage.

Those in attendance will remember this performance forever! A true professional! BRAVO!

the spirit of music

What an absolute trooper. No hissy fit, no hysterics; keep the audience entertained & get on with it.

I cannot begin to imagine the brain activity of such a musical master. I am envious.

Now THAT'S a professional!

She saved the day with grace, humor and wit! Didn’t miss a lick!

What does music do to you? This is a display of the chemistry of tolerance. I can only imagine her relating to her children, spouse and all who come into contact with her. Won’t like to upset such a person. Much respect to you madam!

She had a lovely sense of humour and the audience was kept entertained!

This particular video is one of the most amazing I have ever seen because ... of the lesson it contained for me to learn. Rather than becoming upset (as so many tempramental artists would do) ... we see her the true demonstration of how an artist performs .... when taking a situation that could have distributed the mood for everyone ... and turning it into something lovely, fun, funny ... and teaching me to do the same in my life. Thank you for this absolutely stunning and meaningful video Elaine.

So, we have: 1) Great thinking on her feet to think of Debussy's Arabesque #1 as the perfect piece for a stuck pedal. 2) An excellent rendition, under any circumstances. 3) A recreation of the latter half of the Victor Borge page turner/piano mover schtick. 4) A piano version of the old "theater organ descending into the stage while still being played" trope. And more... That's a performance those folks will definitely never forget!

She was simply amazing! Elegent, gracious and mega-talented.

She doesn’t just play the piano. She caresses it and makes love to it only like a true master can.

I am so THRILLED to find this video! I had the exact same thing happen to me at my students' recital about 10 yrs. ago. I noticed immediately as I started the Sibelius Romance in D-flat that the pedal wasn't working correctly, due to the loosening of a pedal extender that I had added for my younger students. I got about 2 measures in before I just had to stop. I apologized, bent down as gracefully as possible, secured the extension, stood back up, and started over. For years I've second guessed the decision, wondering if stopping was unprofessional. It's so good to know that someone as talented and professional as Ms. Rodrigues made the same choice as I did!

Wow! I have respect for this lady. She brought humour and demonstration of skill through this.

She’s awesome and so cool with the entire experience. Rather than being a diva like so many others would have been.

Q maravilhosa!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼😍😍😍Essa é a parte do nosso "jeitinho brasileiro" que vale a pena!!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

This woman has the soul of a true performer. I thought she was channeling Jerry Lee Lewis, playing standing up. Her long skirt prevented her from putting one leg up on the keyboard. Eliane Rodrigues, you rock!

There was more than one 'real pro' on stage. Hats off, and bravo, to the two stage assistants.

This lady exudes warmth and class! I bet she is a wonderful mom and friend to everyone. I love ❤ her!

It's always been amazing to observe musicians who idealize and expect perfection, to the point they loose their minds and composure over the smallest detail - slight resonance imperfection or someone sneezing/coughing in the audience. It's even more amazing to watch this pianist play around for fun and "experiment" in front of a live, fairly large audience who probably expected perfection :). Without giving in to anxiety, pleasantly smiling, and with seemingly endless empathy for the moving/setup crew, she continued playing just for fun. Almost as if to give a reprieve to the individuals swapping out the piano - who provided an opportunity for her to continue playing as she rode (and played) on the stage freight elevator. And she played brilliantly. A class act. Great post! Thank you for sharing.

She actually puts me at ease.. I love how she treated the situation... many would've been upset, but she turned it into a positive right away. Perhaps it's an example of how your view of things shape the reality. 🦋

This woman is amazing. She never loses her place, never loses her cool, quits playing, or even messes up despite all that is going on. My hat truly goes off to her.

So epic!!! Love it when serious people with serious talent do funny things like this.

Grace under pressure at it's finest. Something the whole world needs right now more than ever. If only we could all be this easy going.

I started appreciating her music after hearing her performances in the Koningin Elisabethwedstrijd. Obviously not only a great artist, but also a nice person.

That's a fine example of Brazilian "Ginga" = Swing, or "Jeitinho" = To manage a smart improvisation due to some extraordinary circumstance.

This is the exact perfect way to handle a problem like this, by turning it into something that is still entertaining to experience.

OMG! What a beautifully gifted lady Eliane Rodrigues is!! I just loved this!