Grand opening of the Steinway Gallery in Baden-Baden

First exclusive presentation by Steinway & Sons in the spa town

The new Steinway Gallery Baden-Baden was opened with a festive event that attracted a large audience from the worlds of culture, politics, and business. Host Claudio Labianca, exclusive Steinway & Sons representative for southern Baden, and his wife Katrin welcomed numerous guests to the stylishly designed annex at Lichtentaler Straße 14 — a new venue for musical and cultural encounters in the spa town.

Guests of honour included Baden-Baden's mayor Dietmar Späth, the managing director of Casino Baden-Baden Tobias Wald, representatives of the Festspielhaus, and Nora Waggershauser from Baden-Baden Events. Guido Zimmermann, President of Steinway & Sons, traveled from Hamburg especially for the occasion. In his speech, he praised the commitment of the host family: “The Steinway Gallery Baden-Baden is a place that builds bridges — between cultures, people, and cities. It is another building block in the international network of music enthusiasts.”

As a sign of special recognition, he presented Claudio and Katrin Labianca with the Golden Steinway Lyre, an award that stands for extraordinary services to the Steinway brand and music culture.

In his speech, Claudio Labianca emphasized the new gallery's aspiration to be more than just a showroom: “We see the Steinway Gallery as a cultural meeting place — a place where artists, music lovers, and curious minds can come together.”

For the first time, Steinway & Sons grand and upright pianos can be experienced firsthand in Baden-Baden — instruments that are unmatched worldwide in their precision, expressiveness, and tonal depth. For over 170 years, Steinway grand pianos have been considered the gold standard in piano facturing — made from over 12,000 individual parts, masterfully finished by hand, and preferred by 98 percent of international concert pianists.

Internationally renowned jazz pianist Martin Tingvall provided a musical highlight, performing his piece “Bergen” live from Hamburg. Singer and entertainer Marc Marshall provided an atmospheric contrast, touching the audience with his performance and a personal address. “The opening of this gallery is a gain for Baden-Baden — it adds another note to the city's cultural soundscape,” said Marshall.

The musical highlight of the afternoon was the performance by star pianist Olga Scheps, whose virtuoso playing impressively underscored the musical aspirations of the new gallery. With the opening of the Steinway Gallery, Baden-Baden has gained another illustrious address. The city now has a place where you can not only experience and purchase excellent instruments, but also where music is lived — in dialogue between artists, audiences, and one of the world's most renowned piano builders.

Photos: Jigal Fichtner