Steinway & Sons has collaborated with the Carnegie Hall Corporation in New York to create a new limited edition grand piano. This project commemorates the enduring connection between the two institutions dating back to 1891. The Hall opened that year and it was a Steinway piano that graced the stage at the very first performance. Since then, nine times out of ten it will have been a Steinway piano you will see on the Carnegie Hall stage.
Steinway has produced several limited edition pianos that celebrate various music venues around the world. These feature under the company’s Concert Hall Series and include: the Elbphilharmonie (2018), the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra (2019), the Royal Albert Hall (2021), the Dubai Opera (2024), the Philharmonie de Paris (2024), the Salzburg Festspiele (2024), and the Steinway Hall London (2025).
Steinway and Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall was constructed between 1889 and 1891. It is located just south of New York’s Central Park between 56th and 57th Street. The venue was originally called the Music Hall, but was renamed in the mid-1890s to honour its benefactor, the Carnegie family, and in particular Andrew Carnegie, who donated some $2 million towards the project. At that time it comprised a 2,800-seat great hall, along with a smaller 250-seat recital hall, and a 1,500-seat theatre.
During its construction, William Steinway, son of founder Henry E. Steinway, called the project a “white elephant”. Steinway had promoted concerts at Steinway Hall and knew how hard it was to make such an enterprise pay. He and others felt that this new facility, although twice the size of Steinway Hall, just couldn’t be made financially viable.
However, William Steinway foresaw the effect Carnegie Hall would have on the profitability of his own venue, and in May 1890 he closed Steinway Hall and re-purposed it as offices and manufacturing space.
Everything changed in 1891. Urged by his London office, William Steinway took a gamble on a young Polish pianist named Jan Paderewski, booking him on a U.S. tour that included Carnegie Hall. The concert was a monumental sell-out. The overwhelming success prompted Steinway to completely re-evaluate the venue, forever cementing the alliance between the company and Carnegie Hall.
Today, this famous concert complex features a magnificent 2,790-seat auditorium, a more intimate 600-seat concert hall, and a versatile 268-seat studio. Renowned for its world-class acoustics and rich heritage, it is widely considered the world’s premier classical concert venue.
The Carnegie Hall Limited Edition
The design of the Steinway Carnegie Hall Limited Edition grand piano is inspired by the architecture, artistry and grandeur of this historic venue.
The stage’s proscenium arch has a beautiful Italianate style which is reflected in the pianos music desk. Also the piano’s designers took the graceful sweeping curves of the dress circle, derived from the original plans, and transcribed them into a flowing motif which features on the piano’s lid. Gold leaf is applied to enhance the effect.
The “personality” of the venue is reflected throughout the design of the instrument, including elements such as the lyre and legs. These echo the flowing natural feel of the renaissance style of the main hall. Even the piano stool has been designed to reflect its elegant lines.
This edition is available to order in ebony or white as a Model M, B or D. However there will only ever be 50 models produced in total. Every instrument is supplied with an individually numbered medallion, and comes fitted with Steinway’s Spirio | r high resolution player piano system.
Website: Steinway & Sons / Concert Hall Series / Carnegie Hall Limited Edition.
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