I can't decide whether to play it or drive it...



Here is the article...

http://www.gizmag.com/peugeot-design-labs-pleyel-piano/24314/

Too cool.

I think you are supposed to fly it.

Wonder what they had to do to the action to lower "the piano’s mechanics so that the cover and keyboard are aligned?" And how that affects the touch?

I noticed on the tv news today what appears to be the same piano being played on a stand at the Paris motor show.
For those who are able to access this clip, it is after 25secs of this news report.
News clip from Paris Motor Show

Looks like a high end sail boat.

Are these, I assume, one of a kind designs bought before their construction? I was under the impression that Pleyel was no longer making pianos, so it would seem to be very risky to build a piano like this unless someone asked for this special design ahead of time.

Pleyel has some piano models listed on their website. I've never seen a new/current one at a U.S. dealer, but I'm curious about their more conventional models.

Beautiful design! Who knows how it sounds, but they certainly succeeded in producing a different and fresh look.

Yes, not to mention where players of normal height would put their knees...

Maybe if you play fast enough it will take off!

Someone shared a link in the Piano Teacher's Forum that includes a video. You can see a bit of the action, and at the end the question of where to put the player's legs is answered.

Pleyel/Peugeot Piano

I see it has elbows like a spinet.

Fascinating design. I think it would work in the right room.

I don't like the sound of it at all. Sounds a little thin in tone. Might as well be a digital which is what it lookes like. Unique design though, but as you might guess it's not my 'cup o' tea'.

I like the design too.
It reminds me bit of the Fazioli Liminal.

Wim

Beautiful, but not of my likeness. I woulnd't have that in my home.

Here is a cool video on the construction. It is quite like the design.

I do wonder how the action feels, as this does not appear to be the most responsive option available, but we only see a glimpse of it. There might be something there I cannot see.

Looks like it can be used as a nice cocktail table

Here comes a more in-depth video (Genesis) with some additional views of action details that was published just today.



A key aspect of the design conception was to raise the keyboard relatively to the piano corpus for better watching the finger acrobatics of the pianist by the audience.

While at a first glance the entire piano corpus seems to appear like a lowrider by Westcoast Customs the elevated keyboard brings a surreal impression like an overstruck grand by Andreas & Nannette STREICHER, Robert WORNUM, Henri PAPE or Wilhelm Julius Theodor STÖCKER. I´m curious what the responsiveness of that funny action design would be.

As a spin-off of the design without the conventional barrier between the inside of the piano corpus and the now elevated pianist´s playing position he should have the benefit of an improved acoustic feedback of the instrument.

The PLEYEL peeps should do best tweaking that piano with Richard DAIN´s Phoenix system including carbon soundboard, his all-new CFRP barless frame, and last but not least a CFRP keyboard. Then I´ll take one, mebbe.

It looks like there are two keyboards, one to play on, and one for the action, attached with wire stickers. That is probably not a good design.

Maybe the day when Pleyel become more interested in the sound than in the look of their pianos they will become what they were once...

I do not think Pleyel was ever what people think they once were!

The drop sticker looks like it is near the center rail rather than the end of the key. The reduced key flex might have an interesting feel. Could anyone see what was going on in the lower part of the action? How many flanges?

I assume this is a prototype, and while it doesn't sound rich at all to my ears, the design team will learn from this and improve on version 2.0. I understand their desire to get more sound to the pianist, but this reminds me of the first Ovation guitars that came out years ago. The selling point was that they produced more sound because of their convex bowl-shaped back. More sound, yes, but not better sound.

And I wonder about the market for this--no one would want to put one on their stage, for it differs too greatly from the normal piano that people would practice on. And what student would have one, knowing that the piano they play in concert would be so significantly different from what they had practiced on? At this stage, this appears to be a toy for the wealthy person who lives in an ultra contemporary environment, not a serious pianist. On account of inflation, just my two bucks.

The irony of Ovation guitars is that they've spent the last 30 years dialling them back so that they sound like ordinary guitars. I played a new one the other day - rather underwhelming. And still the most uncomfortable guitar to sit on your lap...

You are right, Ando, about the comfort level. The convex back of the guitar, combined with the convex shape of my midsection, allows for very little surface area/point of contact to keep the guitar steady!

The market for an art grand like this (and this is truly an art grand) is just what you mentioned - someone who enjoys the sound, but is looking for something different and spectacular to grace their home (or luxury hotel, etc.)

I am very pleased that Pleyel is sill with us and decided to do something like this. The other thing that art grands do is draw attention to the maker, especially while they remain unsold.

The Paris Auto Show gave them lots of publicity I am sure. I personally thought Pleyel had halted production because they are not currently distributed in the USA (call me colloquial) and we are all talking about it here now.

Without ever selling, this project may have had the effect the company desired in building it.

My 2 cents,

You can rest assured that this is a pretty standard grand. They put a special art case around a production rim/plate/soundboard assembly. The action is also standard, with a special coupling linkage to the elevated keyboard. From a piano perspective, I don't think there is anything special about this instrument.

That is what art case pianos are, by definition: standard pianos in a special case. Outside: eye candy (in the eye of the beholder), inside: business as usual.

There have been numerous, what I would call, "extreme" or ultra contemporary art case pianos built before this one. It's not intended for a student, professional pianist's studio, or Carnegie Hall concerts. It's not a toy, it's a piece of artwork encasing a piano.