D’Arrietta is well known as ‘the piano guy’ in Lennon Through A Glass Onion. He and John Waters co-created the show in 1992, and it remains one of Australia’s best loved musical theatre productions, performing both in Australia and worldwide.
Stewart has also been musical director of a number of other major productions, including The White Album Concert and Beatles Back To Back.
In his various shows, D’Arrietta brings his own interpretation to the music of some of the greatest songwriters of our time; including John Lennon, Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits and Randy Newman.
‘D’Arrietta is the full package both as musician and entertainer’
- Daily Telegraph
His popular show, My Leonard Cohen was a smash hit at the 2016 and 2017 Edinburgh and Adelaide Fringe Festivals, as well as selling out at the Sydney Opera House.
‘Everybody knows you should just buy tickets for any show Stewart D’Arrietta announces’
- The Adelaide Show
D’Arrietta’s voice has a signature graveliness, bursting with emotion. His homage to the music of Tom Waits, Belly of A Drunken Piano got rave reviews from The New York Times, Variety and Village Voice. In 2018 he took the show to The Adelaide Fringe Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festivals where it got rave reviews from critics and fans alike.
‘A dynamic singer with a gravelly voice- imagine Tom Waits with overtones of Joe Cocker- and a wicked line in jokes and stories’
- Daily Telegraph
In 2019, D’Arrietta returned for more sell out concerts at the Sydney Opera House and Adelaide Fringe, ahead of a UK wide tour and a return by popular demand, to the Edinburgh Fringe.
‘… experience the remarkable Stewart D’Arrietta in live performance'
- Australian Arts Review
D’Arrietta’s other musical director/performer/composer credits include Cafe Brel, Reunion and Satango. Satango, (the devil’s tango), opens in June 2019 in Las Vegas.
Stewart has also composed and conducted soundtracks for countless features, short form drama and documentaries. He received the Drover’s Award from ‘Arts On Tour’ for his production of The Blonde, The Brunette and The Vengeful Redhead, starring Academy Award nominee, Jacki Weaver. D’Arrietta also writes and performs his own music.
‘May the national treasure that Stewart D’Arrietta is... continue to be an integral part of our national cultural fabric’
- Glenn A Baker
The live recording of My Leonard Cohen is available at shows and online, and Stewart’s CD of original music, My Magnificent Narcotic can be purchased at all shows, along with his earlier albums.