In November, Steinway Hall, London founded in 1875 celebrated its sesquicentennial with a musical celebration. It became the first European Home of Steinway & Sons, arriving five years before the Hamburg factory even opened its doors in 1880, making it Europe’s oldest Steinway Hall. For a century and a half, the Hall has been a sanctuary for performance, craftsmanship, musical collaboration and innovation. It has welcomed an extraordinary selection of artists: Vladimir Ashkensky, Alfred Brendel, Alicia de Larrocha, Dudley Moore, Imogen Cooper, Paul Lewis, Yuja Wang, Julian Joseph and Jacob Collier, to name just a few. John Lennon composed “Imagine” on a Steinway Model Z prepared in the Hall’s own workshop – a moment that forever linked this space to one of music’s most iconic songs. This year, this remarkable space is far more than a showroom; it’s a living testament to the lasting power of music, establishing Steinway’s enduring presence in British concert halls, conservatoires and private collections.
To mark its 150-year anniversary and remarkable legacy, Camilo Daza Tapia, Steinway’s Head of Product Management commissioned designer Christopher Moss to create the 150th Anniversary Limited Edition White and Chrome; a handcrafted piano built in Hamburg to honour Steinway Hall London’s remarkable journey and longstanding commitment to musical excellence. On the collaboration, Camilo said, “We didn’t just design side by side; we exchanged knowledge. Bentley’s team visited our workshops and our artisans visited theirs. And what came from it was a deeper understanding – that precision and passion aren’t industry-specific. It has been and continues to be a conversation, a dialogue between two worlds, discussing the best of craftsmanship in the details. It is about the finishes, the story behind the wood, mastering the veneers, the way every line, every curve, every stitch carries intention.”
The outer rim of the grand piano is cleverly transformed into a canvas, which is intricately and cleverly decorated with a timeline of the UK’s musical and cultural milestones. The images emerging gracefully from the five lines of a musical stave, all seamlessly connected into one continuous, artistic composition. From the façade of Steinway Hall London in 1875, the lines guide the eye through 67 evocative images, charting the nation’s rich musical journey. Edward Elgar, Myra Hess, the Royal Albert Hall, the Suffragettes, Punk Rock, Girl Power and countless other icons appear in a flowing visual narrative, culminating at today’s Steinway Hall.
The design process was about identifying the right visual language; says the designer Christopher Moss, “To convey an artistic message, which is often a challenge, particularly when the approach has never been successfully realised before. Together, we employed a continuous single-line drawing style to create a new form of photomontage-based timeline, one that is visually cohesive and invites the viewer to discover the story within.”
Every detail invites exploration, transforming the piano into a celebration of discovery and recognition. This design not only honours Steinway’s 150-year history in the UK, but also embodies the enduring harmony of music, culture, and artistry – a legacy that is inscribed in every line.
The sounds of nations in the lines of time.
Author: Linda Hunting
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