Few objects promise to bridge the gulf between a virtuoso recital and the latest chart hit, yet the English piano manufacturer Edelweiss claims to have done exactly that. Its proprietary Virtusos system allows a piano to play classical compositions entirely on its own, and to compose duet accompaniments to a wide range of pop, rock and jazz played through any home sound system.
You need not buy a new instrument to enjoy the benefits. The Cambridge-based company will happily retrofit Virtusos to a piano you already own, though once its customisation capabilities come into view, the temptation to upgrade is hard to resist.
In 2015, to mark its fortieth anniversary, Edelweiss created a sister company called Goldfinch, specialising in fully custom-made pianos. Traditional, minimalist or avant-garde; subtle, vibrant or somewhere in between, the studio has done it all. Two pieces stand out from its recent portfolio. The 600,000 USD Baby, produced in collaboration with London artist studio Based Upon, uses metallic details and a seductively tactile resin to evoke the rough texture of the Earth's surface.
Its companion, Le Silex, whose name means "flint" in French, is made to resemble stone struck by lightning and weathered over millions of years, and is being produced as a limited edition of just seven. Both are sculptural, handmade works of art, and neither demands a single piano lesson of its owner, for thanks to Virtusos they will play beautifully on their own.
