Steinway goes Disney with Lang Lang’s Mickey Mouse piano

Steinway goes Disney with Lang Lang’s Mickey Mouse piano

News

norman lebrecht

December 02, 2024

From Pianist magazine:

Steinway artist Lang Lang performed a selection of his favourite Disney songs during an intimate concert at Ladbroke Hall London.

For more than a century, Steinway has captivated global audiences and united people through music. Craig Terry, Managing Director Steinway & Sons UK (pictured below in the Steinway London showroom) comments: “Disney has long been a cherished part of my American heritage, as has Steinway & Sons of course, who I have been working with for over 30 years now. It’s incredibly rewarding to see these two iconic brands come together to create such a beautifully crafted, joyful piano. We have eagerly been awaiting the arrival of the grand piano and look forward to presenting this exceptional instrument to our customers at our London showroom.”

… “I’ve been inspired by Mickey Mouse’s lively character, curiosity and joy since I was little,” said (Italian artist Elena) Salmistraro. “The piano’s white background represents the sketch board that Mickey Mouse was originally created on years ago while rich and colorful tones give energy to his iconic characteristics. The blue gradient represents the movement of music around him, brought together through the gold rivers to create a symphony of sound.” 

Comments

  • John Borstlap says:

    21th century musical culture.

  • Emetic says:

    If you had to explain naff to an alien …….

  • ethant says:

    Snicker all y’all want, Lang Lang has grown far beyond the tiny bubble of classical music, he is crying over your mockeries each time he gets his paycheck, and, yet, this is what really gets your goats, he still commands opening night galas in the most serious and prestigious classical venues across the globe.

    • John Borstlap says:

      There are always people who prefer to replace value with attention, and a book by a newspaper, and content with wrapping paper, in short; please…. anything that relieves them from thinking.

      The mickey mouse piano is specifically meant for THEM.

      • Sue Sonata Form says:

        Not to mention a former President of the USA who had a flash Disney-adult vision for America. He still thinks it’s a super smart idea and worked hard to get Harris elected on the basis of it!!

    • NoFan says:

      In China, a student paid 1000USD each to play with Lang lang for 4-min in concert, together with 100 kids. That is how Lang lang earned the money to buy his “open gala” moment. It is a joke that he still promote such concert under the name of music education.

  • Pianofortissimo says:

    Long live Fazioli.

  • Philipp Lord Chandos says:

    Rise up against inequality, Mini Mouse!

  • Gerry Feinsteen says:

    His next album will feature his skills as a piano technician: “Looney Tunes”

  • Michael says:

    I wonder what is more costly…the piano or a week in Disney World…HA…HA

  • WU says:

    Steinways has reached rock bottom in that case. I like Mickey, but not in a classical concert hall, unless it’s the film accompanied by an orchestra, that can be quite nice. Especially “the sourcerer’s apprentice”. Besides, Mickey isn’t grimacing all the time and doesn’t behave like a contortionist close to death in slower sections.

  • Sue Sonata Form says:

    Lang Lang has huge audiences. This doesn’t threaten me or my interest in serious music. Even Beethoven had to endure his music pushed aside by the Viennese to accommodate the silly and frivolous operas of Rossini – who was all the rage back then!! I consider them popcorn, just as many here consider Lang Lang.

  • Fred Funk says:

    Just need a Donald Duck Viola for those people.

  • Adrian Hart says:

    It’s also Mickey Mouse piano playing, if you ask me.

  • Jobim75 says:

    Disney song are a perfect fit for Lang Lang, his complete absence of the slightest clue on esthetics, music schools, makes him the perfect ambassador, he should stick to that. Listening to him play live a selection of Chopin’s mazurkas was a painful experience. Not a single musical idea (a big word) came right…a long tunnel of 30 minutes of wandering in a new territory. It’s like coming back home after a long trip to a burglarized and trashed house….I am a bit harsh on him, because he’s obviously a nice guy, unpretentious and accessible… Probably he brings people to classic and I am thankful for this, but when you have Rubinstein ( especially 1950’s version) or Malcuszinski or Horowitz in your ear… that was tough…if I can listen to them….why couldn’t he?….

  • zandonai says:

    Why is Mickey upside down?
    Fyi it’s a Steinway ‘Spirio’ player piano.

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