Have you ever tried to imagine what the world’s most expensive piano might be? Imagine no further. The most expensive piano in the world belonged to the Beatle’s John Lennon and was auctioned off to British pop-singer George Michael in 2000. When the topic of expensive pianos comes to mind you might think somewhere along the lines of a Bosendorfer, or a Bechstein, or maybe a Steinway & Sons “Alma-Tedema”, with its lavish artwork and hand crafted symmetry. But the Steinway & Sons “Model Z” Piano formerly owned by John Lennon is a fairly ordinary walnut upright piano that still bears a few cigarette burns attributed to the musician.
The piano was originally bought by Lennon in December 1970 and delivered to a studio at his home in Tittenhurst Park in Berkshire, England. He composed and recorded the song “Imagine” on it and was filmed playing the song on it for the first time for his wife, Yoko Ono, and the Plastic Ono band. Believed to be a piece of British history by many, the most expensive piano in the world sold at auction in the year 2000 for £1.45 million (about US $2.1 million) to George Michael after a “who’s who” bidding war that included several other British celebrities.
A Steinway & Sons Model Z
After using the world’s most expensive piano to record songs for an album, George Michael returned the piano to the Liverpool museum that housed it prior to his ownership. He stated that “the piano was not the type of thing that should be in storage somewhere or being protected, it should be seen by people.”
Of course, that doesn’t help anyone with seven figure budget and an urge to own the most expensive piano on the market. Luckily for anyone like that, Kuhn Studio and Bösendorfer Pianos have created a very pricey piano.
The Kuhn-Bösendorfer piano, as well as the accompanying bench, is set with 100,000 hand-cut, polished gems by glass artist Jon Kuhn. Kuhn’s glasswork is known for its luminescent quality and is featured permanently in over thirty-five museums, including the New Yor kMetropolitan Museum of Modern Art and the White House Permanent Collection.
The Bösendorfer piano on which the diamonds are set is no less deserving of praise. Bösendorfer has been a name in the piano industry known for voice and playing sensitivity since 1828.
The Kuhn- Bösendorfer line of pianos will soon be available for public consumption. Anyone wishing to own the most expensive piano available can expect to shell out $1.2 million for the privilege.
A Kuhn-Bösendorfer piano
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow! Too expensive… Find a music store that sells used instruments, that way you can get a better price on a decent instrument (piano don’t “spoil” or “get used up”). In fact, older instruments are generally better because the wood has had time to age and they are less likely to warp or change.
There’s a picture of the actual piano available at this link:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/jonkuhn/bosendorferpiano/prweb1923994.htm
The earlier picture was an illustration.
those piano’s are so awsome
I Love piano’s so much there realy cool
wow. its very expensive I dont think anyone would buy such tag price! hehehe
i have a piano of 1 million yah
A really ugly piano
If you think that’s expensive for a piano, look into the stradivarius violins
i hate piano's and that one looks really ugly
Heintzman crystal piano, $3.22 million:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qOvr30F4_0&feature=youtube_gdata
Its sad to know how a bunch of these people are ranting about the piano but dont take the time to read about it. for some of you idiots out there who dont take the time to read it that piano belonged to musican John Lennon. he was perhaps the most reconised musican of his time. so stop complaning about the look of the piano and insted look at its history.
that piano it dose not so expensive. I think may be 100000$
@ ceejay01
My Father is a piano tuner and one of the biggest problems he has is people thinking that their grandmother’s piano is absolutely wonderful. this is most certainly not the case. Would you keep your grandmother’s car and still use it for long trips? No, you would buy a new car, and sell the old one. Pianos are exactly the same. They definitely ‘spoil’, humidity is the single biggest problem with pianos. the older the wood, the dryer, yes, but therefore more likely to warp with a smaller change in temperature, humidity etc. Check your facts before posting about something like this
I agree 100%! Not everybody can afford the best, & lets not forget about the tune-ups! Gotta keep it in good shape or time will turn it into trash.
I truly excellent piece of furniture as well as Grand piano.
(But why the rank of SS-Sturmbannfuhrer all over ?)
Sorry, but I do not approve of glass "bling" on a piano. Piano bling should be the best fancy woods, & Brass, & Bronze, Silver & copper. It must resonate sound to perfection! Just my opinion…
Here is the the link of the piano that is for sale for more than half a million US dollar.
<a href="http://www.legendarysteinway.com” target=”_blank”>www.legendarysteinway.com
please check it out