This might be the coolest piano ever made. And it doesn't sound too bad either

27 July 2015, 11:32 | Updated: 6 January 2017, 14:45

A Hungarian pianist recently unveiled a piano he designed himself – and it may be the coolest piano ever made…

So shiny…

The backstory: a Hungarian pianist called Gergely Bogányi decided the modern grand piano needed a revamp. So he's come up with this:

Bogányi new piano

The Bogányi piano

That's right, he named after himself. And it looks pretty amazing. Possibly (whisper it) more amazing than Peugeot's Pleyel piano unveiled back in October 2014?

A piano for the 21st century

Bogányi claims the biggest revolution is the design of the soundboard – which is sprung and disconnected from the piano frame. What that adds up to is: you can hold notes for longer. Which is nice.

Bogányi new piano

Another dimension

It’s all getting a bit sci-fi-y. “I have played with a sound in my head different to that which I was playing,” said Bogányi. “It was always in another dimension from the actual sound coming from the piano. How could I bridge the gap between the ‘miraculous’ sound in my head and that of the sound I was hearing?” Another dimension? Well it does look like something from outer space…

Bogányi new piano

But… what does it sound like?

Ah-ha, that's the big question. Actually, really nice. Better than a Yamaha or Steinway concert grand? Have a listen and decide for yourself… 

 

But if you want to get your hands on one…

You'd better have €200,000 hanging around.

Photos: Tamás Bujnovszky, Judit Marjais, Zengafons 2015