“The piano is functional as a work of art and as a playable instrument containing state-of-the-art video and lighting that explodes the boundaries of instrument and performer. It reacts to how Elton plays -- more intense, less intense. For the first time, it’s a visual and audio storyteller,” Yamaha VP and Artist Services chief Chris Gero said. The 10-foot-long concert grand cost $1.3 million, but who’s counting the overage?! “When I had the Red Piano, it was like driving a Ferrari. It looked fantastic and was incredibly successful. But this takes it to a whole new level. Now it’s like getting into a Formula 1 racing car. It’s absolutely perfect,” said Elton, who collaborated on its design with 27-year-old industrial designer Akie Hinokio and her Yamaha team led by Chris. All hand-assembled, its interior contains a harp and hardware made from nickel instead of the usual brass. Live cameras are mounted behind the keys so the audience gets a piano’s-eye-view of the action. Built-in sensors in the keyboard let Elton trigger visual effects throughout the theater and add sonic enhancements. Yamaha has five technicians who maintain it and tune it before each performance.
Klingt für mich schon ziemlich nach was Besonderem;)
Also den Umhang finde ich grauselig, aber die Anzüge sind wirklich toll und gefallen mir persönlich sehr viel besser als die Motivanzüge der letzten Jahre.
Zitat von LevonfanAlso den Umhang finde ich grauselig, aber die Anzüge sind wirklich toll und gefallen mir persönlich sehr viel besser als die Motivanzüge der letzten Jahre.
Absolut deiner Meinung (inkl. Umhang;-))! Die "normalen Konzertjacken" sind schon eine Klasse für sich, überhaupt keine Frage, aber die hat er nun schon ewig lange und lassen ihn (noch) kleiner und runder aussehen. Beim neuen Anzug sieht man wenigstens, dass der Mann ein bisschen Bein hat;)
Hoffentlich klingt das Intro etwas anders als das hier LOL
Finde es immer wieder erstaunlich, dass als Titelangabe einfach nur "2001 - A space odyssey" genannt wird. Scheint niemand mehr zu wissen, dass das Stück von Wagner im Original "Also sprach Zarathustra" hieß, oder!? Übrigens nutze auch Elvis das Stück zur Eröffnung seiner Konzerte!
Für die Show benutzt Elton offensichtlich keinen Telepromter (auch keinen in Rosen versteckten^^). Am Freitag wurde er wohl dazu verdonnert, "endlich" von der Bühne zu gehen: Nach Circle of Life hat er angefangen, Hände zu schütteln, als prompt die Lichter angingen. Dann wollte er von der Bühne; als ihm ein Fan was zugerufen hat, ist er hin, und hat wieder fleißig Hände geschüttelt, bis gleich darauf die Lichter kurz aus und wieder angingen;-)
Glaub nicht, dass das schon erwähnt worden ist: Circle of Life wird nicht solo gespielt, sondern mit der kompletten Band und beinhaltet auch Elemente der Musical-Version: Elton combines elements of his version along with Hans Zimmer's orchestrations and the choral arrangements by Lebo M to close the evening BIG! Accompanied by another animated film of the African landscape the audience was on their feet and many with tears in their eyes.
MEINE EJ-KONZERTE 4x 02.07.2008 Halle/Westfalen mit Band 15.10.2009 Düsseldorf Red Piano 07.12.2010 Hamburg mit Ray Cooper 21.06.2011 Hannover mit Band/2Cellos
What Elton John looks for in a million-dollar piano
k LaxWed, Oct 5, 2011 (5:58 p.m.) Elton John’s Yamaha piano is crafted specifically for his hard playing style.
Rick Lax caught up with Yamaha Entertainment Group Vice President Chris Gero to ask four questions about Elton John's very special, very expensive, custom piano. How long have you been working with Elton John? Yamaha’s been working with Elton since 1993. I’ve been collaborating with him since the Red Piano Tour. When that was wrapping up, we started talking about the Million Dollar Piano.
And is that figure pretty accurate—a million dollars? The exact figure is $1.4 million. We originally priced the piano at under a million. But remember, our pianos take years to produce and we make them by hand in Japan, so we didn’t want to price out the LED screens before we’d completed the piano. We realized there would be advances in LED technology by the time we were finished. And by the time we added all the electronics, we were looking at $1.4 million.
Bells and whistles aside, what does Elton look for in a piano? Elton is an exceedingly hard player. He plays really, really hard. Especially with his left hand. He used to play so hard that his hands would bleed. So we modify and strengthen the hammers for him. And the action is really light. We file the keys a certain way. He’s got a signature sound that’s developed over time. It comes from the acoustic properties of the instrument, but also the off-stage tone generators. So his “signature sound” is actually the combination of a lot of sounds put together.
Who else plays as hard as Elton? The only other guy is Billy Joel.