Classical superstar Lang Lang to judge train station piano UK talent show

Found in the train stations of Paris, New York and Tokyo, in recent years, public pianos have become a common sight in cities around the world.

The phenomenon is such that it has inspired a TV talent show, The Piano, airing from Feb 15 on Britain's Channel 4. This TV show, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, comprises five episodes.

Each week, amateur pianists are invited to play the piano at St Pancras station in London, as well as at stations in Leeds, Birmingham and Glasgow. They will also have the opportunity to share their stories and their love for music with British TV viewers.

But participants on The Piano do not know that their performance is being carefully listened to by two internationally renowned musicians: Lebanese-born singer Mika and Chinese virtuoso Lang Lang.

These two judges will select the four candidates who impressed them the most to play in a grand finale at the Royal Festival Hall in London, offering them the chance to perform on "one of the world’s most prestigious stages," says Channel 4.

This show hopes to challenge the elitist image that often comes with playing the piano, even if it is a widely played instrument in many countries.

"We’ve been able to work with such a broad and diverse range of pianists bravely expressing themselves in such a passionate heartfelt way on public pianos in railway stations across the country," said Richard McKerrow, one of the executive producers of The Piano, in a statement.

Street pianos worldwide

Among the contestants are a nonagenarian who has been playing the piano for decades, a 12-year-old who has never played in front of an audience, and a visually impaired person. And they don't just practice their scales or compositions from the classical repertoire. Some play jazz, pop, boogie-woogie, hip-hop and even house music on the piano.

Others sing or rap to the songs their fingers play on the keys. This diversity shows how the piano is a versatile instrument that can suit everyone, says Lang Lang.

"This instrument really is for everybody. Piano connects people, it touches hearts," he told the Guardian. "TV has never really had a piano competition accessible to everyone. We’ve had professional contests or series for vocalists, but never just piano."

The TV talent contest shows how so-called street pianos can reach a wide audience.

A democratisation that began with the English visual artist, Luke Jerram. In 2008, he created the concept of "Play Me I'm Yours" street pianos, notably to fight against the loneliness often associated with big cities. The concept is to place pianos in public spaces so that anyone can tinkle the ivories. Some of the first free-to-access instruments were installed in London, New York, São Paulo, Barcelona and Toronto. - AFP