Australian Prince fans got just two weeks notice that The Purple One was coming to the country to performing a few exclusive shows from his Piano and a Microphone tour in February.

It would prove to be Prince’s last visit to Australia — the pop icon dying overnight at his home in Minnesota aged 57.

But despite the short notice, Prince’s last run of Australian shows — four in Sydney, four in Melbourne and one in Perth — sold out almost immediately, with ticket websites inundated by fans scrabbling to get their hands on a ticket.

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Rebecca Baillie was one such fan, securing tickets to a Sydney show.

“I had to get in quick, with memories of his sensational Diamonds and Pearls concert back in the 90’s assuring me this surprise visit was going to be well worth it,” she said.

Extraordinarily, Prince performed two shows a night in Sydney and Melbourne.

“I had to settle for two tickets to the 10:30pm at the Opera House — would these approaching middle-age fans be able to stay awake?” Ms Baillie asked herself.

‘The Opera House stage was bathed in various shades of purple’

The concert was, by all accounts, an extraordinary and unpredictable experience.

Prince performs at the Open Air SCG in Sydney. Photo: Getty

“It was an extraordinary and intimate concert,” Ms Baillie said.

“The Opera House stage was bathed in various shades of purple, a lonely grand piano and a microphone and four standard candelabras the only other adornments.

“Prince came on stage on time as promised, strutting out with a Willy Wonka-style walking cane, and proceeded to wow the crowd with his mastery of funk, soul, pop and R&B.

“Accompanied only by his piano, the artist took us through a back catalogue of his entire career, sometimes just teasing us with snippets of hits that we longed to hear; Raspberry Beret, Kiss, Nothing Compares 2 U seamlessly flowing into the next.”

An ABC Double J review of one of the Sydney shows noted that Prince’s presence was equally as important as his music.

“His stunning voice, the way he effortlessly vamps on the piano and the surprisingly frequent interaction he has with the audience,” music editor Dan Condon wrote.

“Mid-song, he shoots knowing glances and utters little asides to the crowd as they holler their adoration.

“It feels more like Prince has taken over the piano at a party or late at night in a hotel bar than on one of the world’s most distinguished stages.”

‘Maybe he knew? But he didn’t let his fans know’

The Piano and a Microphone tour was also a chance for fans to see another side of the artist known for his extroverted sexuality and gyrating dance moves.

Wristbands were given out for Prince’s Australian shows to stop ticket scalping Photo: ABC

“This was also a more mellow Prince … stuck to his piano stool, grooving along in the funkiest of ways, but only getting up a few times to do a customary strut around the stage,” Ms Baillie said.

Condon wrote that it was Prince’s “need to change things up that has seen him remain a vital artistic force for almost four decades”.

“A man sitting behind a piano, playing songs from throughout his illustrious career is not exactly groundbreaking. But, of course, Prince flips the form,” he wrote.

“Sometimes he gets such a charge of energy from his music that he abandons the piano, bolts across the stage and poses, Christlike, to his adoring crowd. At one stage he even launches himself up onto the piano and strikes a pose.”

Ms Baillie mused: “Maybe he knew? But he didn’t let his fans know.”

“It was an unforgettable night capped off with the most electric performance of Purple Rain which, in hindsight, must have been a farewell. Thank goodness we were there,” she said.