"I was a little nervous"

Will anyone dare to sit behind the keys? Or will the grand piano that stood on Brupbacherplatz last Saturday as part of our first open piano event remain unused? The answer to this question came during the set-up. As soon as the grand piano provided by Musik Hug was ready to play, there was already someone who wanted to play (and could play!).

He was not alone. Many others also took advantage of the unexpected opportunity to play, some even several times: some played pop arrangements, others jazz or classical, some sang along. Children and dogs scurried around, people got off their bikes and listened for a while, others sat down in the street café. And Marienne Montero - singer, pianist and winner of the Little Prix Walo - carried on even when, contrary to the weather forecasts, it started to rain: there were enough people there to hold a tarpaulin over the grand piano.

In other words, we have successfully kicked off this year's open-air events. A grand piano will be in the city two more times - and on 13 and 14 June, the two-day tonhalleAIR will finally take place on Münsterplatz. In addition to the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, the children of Superar Suisse will also perform, and the Zurich Jazz Orchestra and the Zurich Youth Symphony Orchestra will play together with orchestral musicians.

The Open Piano has already seen one cooperation - with the MKZ (Musikschule Konservatorium Zürich): A number of students took the opportunity to perform. The first was Leo Reinthaler, aged 11, who played pieces by Beethoven and Grieg. He first came to the piano "because we had an instrument at home from my mum". He has now been taking lessons for four and a half years, and the fact that this instrument is the right one for him could neither be overheard nor overlooked. "I was a bit nervous at first", he said afterwards, "but then it got better and better". He generally enjoys performing, "we often have class concerts, so you get used to it". And what was it like to receive so much applause? "It was a very cool feeling!"

In addition to the piano, the audience also got to hear a violin: Our violinist Irina Pak played her way through the styles and centuries from Vivaldi to Adele together with pianist Kateryna Tereshchenko. Who knows whether the wide-eyed little girl who stood right next to her was admiring the music or the beautiful pink dress ... One thing is certain: it was a special Saturday afternoon on Brupbacherplatz for many people and for us too. To be continued!

Further dates:

• Rathausbrücke: Sat 24 May, 3.30-8.30 pm
• Münsterhof: Thu 12 June, 1-2.30 p.m