150 years of Steinway Celebrations ‘We could have danced all night !’

An unforgettable evening with festivities that will continue until Christmas but which opened with one of the greatest works ever written for a keyboard instrument.

Danny Driver having played the complete Goldberg Variations last night in the nearby Wigmore Hall made a ‘musical offering’ of a selection of them. It was enough to hear the ‘Aria’ played with crystalline clarity and poignant simplicity with ornaments that enhanced the contours but never distorted them .Refined aristocratic playing had one wishing that Bach could have heard his masterpiece on a modern day Steinway.

Kathryn Stott and Madeleine Brown continued this short concert with Schubert’s famous Ave Maria and Dvořák’s sumptuous Slavonic Dance op 72 n. 2. But the real gem was the Popular Song by Walton together with rhythmic effects tapped in turn on the wood of the piano. Kathryn Stott may have retired from the concert platform last year but her love of music making will always illuminate all she chooses to do.

Charles Owen looking almost as debonair as our host Ian Skelly, the renowned voice of BBC Radio 3. A last minute warm up in the depths of Steinways meant a sprint upstairs to where the music making was hotting up.

He may have been breathless but his charm and exquisite playing poured from his fingers with radiance and fluidity as the Prelude from Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin were simply strands of pure gold and silver sounds. The Menuet and Toccata are a perfect pair together, with the simple glowing beauty of the Menuet that Charles floated magically into the rarified air that he had brought up with him from down under. But it was the Toccata that took flight with ravishing sounds of fleeting beauty. A technical perfection where passion and real musical understanding were the raison d’être of his being. A short musical exploration of the world of Steinway was described with the inimitable voice of Maestro Skelly. A master who can still carry the banner for the BBC when speech like a singer came from a thing called the diaphragm!

The unveiling of a specially made piano for Steinway’s 150th with a white Steinway ‘B’ given the title of ‘The Sounds of Nations in the Lines of Time’ .The story of Steinway & Sons in the United Kingdom which began in 1875 with the opening of the first European branch and showroom , Steinway Hall,London. Celebrating this legacy Steinway presents the White & Chrome Limited Edition with its outer case transformed into a canvas, intricately decorated with a timeline of the UK’s musical and cultural milestones, alongside prolific artists. Dominic Ferris now appeared in his red tuxedo contrasting wonderfully with the white Steinway that lay before his agile fingers, as he demonstrated with great mastery his Ballade for Steinway. Implored by all the Steinway craftsmen present he was persuaded to sing one of his most famous popular songs.

The Town Cryer for Cindeford ,Jer Holland ,had now appeared with bell in hand to call us to order and to bid us move into the main foyer where Champagne was being corked in abundance.

Celebrating with us was the renowned jazz musician Julian Joseph, who once the partying had died down could be heard in deeply concentrated improvisations of remarkable originality and unforgettable mastery.

With the wonderful spirio Steinway D red hot after Julian Josephs star performance, unnoticed by the distinguished partying crowd, Stuart Jones from Wales sat and amused himself at the piano.He was pleasantly surprised to see me listening to his musings as I was mesmerised by the passion and beauty that he too could transmit.

Throwing his hands to the left and right and completely ignored except by me I was once more reminded of the power that music can exert and can reach places where words are just not enough

Steinway & Sons flying the flag for young musicians always.

Last night in this very space :https://christopheraxworthymusiccommentary.com/2025/11/13/tomos-boyles-at-steinway-hall-for-the-keyboard-trust-intelligence-and-poetic-artistry-combine/

And tonight in Milan https://christopheraxworthymusiccommentary.com/2025/11/14/axel-trolese-in-steinway-flagship-milan-holding-high-the-banner-of-music/