Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Limited Edition
In 2019, Steinway & Sons had signed an agreement with Shanghai Symphony Orchestra (SSO) to launch 20 Steinway Limited Editions to celebrate the 140th Anniversary of SSO. This is the first time Steinway has crafted tailor-made products for a professional orchestra during its more than 165 years of existence.
The main body of the Steinway-SSO Limited Editions consists of precious Santos Rosewood. In contrast, their lid is made of elegant and restrained ebony Santos Rosewood with clearly visible black grain.
There is also something unique on the fallboard, which is designed with inspiration drawn from the Orchestra’s vision of “Lighting up the City with Music”. The Santos Rosewood demonstrates a gradual transition in hue from a jewel-like dark brown in the center to a soft black along the edge. The design is evocative of the moment when the Orchestra was created 140 years ago.
In addition to the piano’s lid, the signature elements of SSO can also be seen in the other parts of the piano body. The famous Steinway Lyre in the center of the fallboard testifies to the quality of the piano. The golden SSO logo in the lower right corner tells us that the piano is one-of-a-kind.
The hollow-out music desk incorporates the architectural profile of the Shanghai Symphony Concert Hall, whose building architect Arata Isozaki created the exterior. Isozaki used water jet carving techniques to allow for smooth and dynamic lines. In the hollows, the rhythm of the sound reflective wooden slats is reproduced. The inner shell of the piano also contains a bronze plaque on which the words “Steinway Limited Edition to Celebrate the 140th Anniversary of SSO” are inscribed. The uniqueness of these pianos and the story behind their creation are therefore manifested in the details.