Tonight is the night for piano aficionados to get up close and historical with a replica of the first Steinway grand piano ever made.
Modelled on Heinrich Steinway’s original design, built in 1836, this replica of his magical #1 piano was meticulously created by Belgian master piano builder Chris Maene.
Experts were brought in to X-ray the #1 so that wood from the same forests could be used.
Tonight, Larry Sitsky and Arnan Wiesel will perform on the new instrument and afterwards audience members are invited to tinkle the keys - as close as one gets, since the original Steinway #1 is with Steinway & Sons New York and cannot be touched or played by anyone.
At 7pm in Rehearsal Room 3, ANU. Phone 1300 199 589 or email jessica@exclusivepianogroup.com.au
The event is free.
Published in the The Canberra Times Panorama, March 6, 2010
Ed: Also at the event were a Steinway Square piano from the late 1800s, an 1877 Steinway concert grand and a modern Steinway D concert grand. I was allowed to play the 1877 grand, performing themes from the third movement of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2.
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| from The Canberra Times, March 3, 2010 |
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| The Chris Maene Steinway #1 replica, completed in 2008 |
