Queen Victoria Building Square
Location: 455 George Street, Sydney
News & Links
- • "Sydneysiders tickled tickling ivories of outdoor pianos" (news.com.au)
- • "Performer: Luke Jerram" (radio programme, ABC)
- • "Sydney virtuosos tickle the ivory" (news report: video & transcript, ABC)
- • "Tinkling any old keys in the street" (Sydney Morning Herald)
- • Sydney Festival homepage
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Jim Levin: I play every day on my pianos at home, and yes found these instruments to be harsh and difficult in comparison, but wouldn't (and couldn't) walk passed. They have a charm of their own. The kind of furniture you expect to find in an old English pub, slightly honky-tonk tone with cigarette burns on the keys but each one with a different story to tell. I think you've missed the point, mate.
Interestingly, the one in Wynyard feels totally different. Opera House tomorrow, Australia Square Thursday !! :-)
I understand your concern, but this isn't about a pristine performance. It's about bringing the community together and it works like a charm. I played for 10 or 15 minutes today and 5 strangers came up and talked to me afterwards. A large group of people were smiling, singing, taking photos and having a great time out in the sunshine.
That type of unity is a rare occurence in a city of strangers like Sydney.
Bottom line: If you had to buy 20 pianos on an artwork budget that would be subject to the weather, vandalism and countless amateurs playing chopsticks, you'd get cheap ones too!
PS: The sustain pedal worked for me.
The piano was in shocking condition, the pedals didn't even work, there was no where for me to put the score and the chair is so high that regular playing becomes impossibly difficult. Needless to say, I stopped my performance early very dissapointed. I initially wanted to post my performance in youtube, but I'm doing it anymore as pianos are indiscriminately chosen.
Most of the time I only get to play electronic keyboards, so this is great opportunity to play an actual piano.