In October, Steinway & Sons Spirio, the world’s finest high resolution player piano, salutes the Piano Man, Billy Joel. Joel’s longtime music director, David Rosenthal, debuts a set of arrangements designed exclusively for Spirio that features authentic renditions of his favorite Billy Joel tunes, and (with Joel's enthusiastic approval) irresistible adaptations of Joel's music set in a classical style (The Longest Time Piano Sonata and Uptown Girl Sonatina). Our SpirioSync video this month features David performing Billy’s finger-bending ragtime tribute, Root Beer Rag.
As Autumn and Halloween approach, it's only fitting to present a four-hand version of Dukas’ Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Best-known as the soundtrack to a hapless Mickey Mouse's escapades from Fantasia, the work thrives in the masterful hands of Pascal and Ami Rogé. More from the spooky side comes from David Benoit playing The Great Pumpkin Waltz and Simon Mulligan performing the memorable “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” theme, otherwise known as Gounod’s Funeral March of a Marionette.
An obvious seasonal favorite is Autumn Leaves, but it is delivered with a twist by Dominic Ferris, who also delivers his trademark hits from musical theater. Spanish pianist Eduardo Frias debuts on Spirio with Albéniz, Turina and some new Spirio favorites by Jorge Grundman. And the exceptional Australian pianist David Fung debuts this month with the first installment in a series of Mozart Sonatas.
Korean pianist Klara Min continues her exploration of the works of Alexander Scriabin, performing Vers la Flamme and the 9th Sonata, and Antonio Pompa-Baldi continues his virtuosic series with Giuseppe Martucci’s Fantasia, Op. 51.