Can I have a Big Bach and fries please?
CLASSICAL PIANIST OFFERS TO PLAY AT BURGER JOINT (And I’ll take it away... I’m going Chopin)
Craig McDonald A concert pianist who played gigs at McDonald’s on Broadway for 10 years wants to perform at Scotland’s busiest burger joint.
Andrew Shapiro entertained thousands of diners on the grand piano at the chain’s f lagship restaurant in downtown Manhattan.
He contacted the Sunday Mail after reading our article about how a McDonald’s on Glasgow’s Argyle Street had started playing classical music to calm down rowdy customers.
Andrew, 42, who lives in Brooklyn, New York, said: “I saw the article about the McDonald’s in Scotland and I just thought, ‘I have to play there.’
“All they have to do is get a piano into the restaurant and I will do the rest. I would love to do it.”
Andrew’s unusual residency at the McDonald’s in Broadway began after the branch installed a grand piano.
He read about it in a local magazine in 2004 and called the branch manager to ask if he could play a few tunes for customers.
He became a star attraction, performing regularly on a mezzanine level until 2013 when the restaurant was renovated and interior changed.
Composer Andrew has been described in the US music press as a “blend of classical and popular music”. He has visited Scotland once before for the Edinburgh festival – and has another link thanks to a childhood nanny who was Scottish and would pass him copies of The Beano and The Dandy.
The dad of one said: “I am not sure how I would go down in Glasgow but I would hope the customers would enjoy it.”
McDonald’s said: “We appreciate Mr Shapiro’s interest in playing in our restaurant.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have a piano in our restaurant so this may not be possible. But should he ever be in Glasgow, we’d certainly welcome him for something to eat and consider a performance.”