Steinway & Sons + Mickey Mouse
There is a musicality in cartoons that blends the auditory and the visual better than almost any other medium.
The clash of symbols to denote destruction; a crooning saxophone begetting a mischievous turn; the unbridled joy expressed in the whistle of a mouse freshly animated. That last scene is perhaps the most famous instance of a cartoon utilising music and is not only its star the most iconic character put to cell, he is also the unlikely focus of this feature and a recent centurion to boot. He is Mickey Mouse.
To celebrate his 100th birthday, esteemed piano maker Steinway & Sons have thrown him a party. Their gift to him is, naturally, a limited edition self-playing grand piano. The pervading word that comes to mind upon seeing the piano is joyous. Steinway have done away with the austere elegance of black spruce and given artist Elena Salmistraro a white canvas on which to give life to.
Multi-coloured, mad-patterned Mickeys adorn the lid and casing in various iconic poses. This is a gift for a mouse, you must remember, who lives in house shaped like his own head. The clean white canvas is finished with gold embellishments wherever there is space and the traditionally ebony keys are painted with blues that lighten in tone as you explore pitches. Such a playful take on an instrument synonymous with stately concert halls is brilliant as it is outrageous.
Elena gives an insight into her inspiration, saying,
“In crafting this Steinway piano, I drew inspiration from Mickey Mouse’s joyful and energetic personality, infusing it into a vibrant and powerful design. For the piano keyboard, I opted for a blue gradient, as to me, the blue colour best represents the tones of sounds and music. I have a deep appreciation for Disney because this brand has a unique ability to convey emotions to people — and that’s precisely what I strive to achieve in my work every day.”
Each piano is outfitted with the revolutionary SPIRIO | r, recognised as the world’s premier high-resolution player piano. Capable of live performance capture, high-resolution recording, and playback, SPIRIO | r breathes life into your Steinway by delivering performances from the world’s greatest pianists through a continually expanding library.This ground breaking fusion of artistry, craftsmanship, and technology in SPIRIO | r not only offers new tools of expression but also provides innovative ways to access, share, and immerse oneself in the world of piano performance.
With the gifting out the way, a longawaited celebration took the form of a concert given by Lang Lang (naturally); Lang Lang is the foremost classical pianist in the world today. In an intimate concert in London’s Ladbroke Hall, Lang Lang treated guests to an uproarious medley of Disney standards.
It was a befitting tribute to a company that has given so much to so many. The piano itself encapsulates that ineffable crossover between music, art and joy—much like Disney itself. Only 25 of these highly collectible pianos have been made available for purchase.
