- Henk Swinnen |
The Chris Maene Straight Strung Concert Grand Piano
At the end of the 19th century Steinway & Sons realized the now successful concept of the modern grand piano with crossed strings. This led to a standardization in piano production and a unification of the piano sound. In response, from the middle of the 20th century, there was an urgent search for performances using historical instruments that would reproduce the greater variety of sounds and transparency of yesteryear.
In 2013, Daniel Barenboim commissioned Chris Maene to build the "perfect straight-strung concert grand". His wish was to combine the unique and characteristic richness of sound of the historic piano with the volume and brilliance, as well as the resilience and playing comfort of the best modern grand pianos.
In May 2015, Daniel Barenboim inaugurated his new straight-strung grand piano with Schubert concerts in Vienna, Paris and London.
Henrik Swinnen from Belgium presents the construction and realization of this grand piano in this seminar.