Auto Exotica relaxes with musical oasis
Steinway Lounge offers up live performances, drinks and three beautiful Ferraris
Auto Exotica at the Canadian International Auto Show gets a little more classical, jazz, pop and fizz this year.
Surrounded by stunning and powerful Ferraris, artwork and two of the legendary piano maker’s finest grand pianos, the Steinway Lounge is a new place to relax and have a drink inside the most popular section of the auto show.
“Nothing like this has been done before at the auto show,” said Jason Campbell, the show’s general manager.
“We’ve put in a licensed lounge in the Auto Exotica room, presented by Steinway, so it will feature a couple of pianos and live performances each day.”
The lounge is a 2,700-square-foot area featuring three Ferraris: a classic1972 Dino, a newer model California and the brand new Ferrari 488, as well as the automotive artworks of Canadian illustrator Ken Dallison and high-end furniture designed by Roche Bobois.
“It will be a relaxing environment for people to chill and take in all the fine surroundings,” said Campbell.
Musicians, from novices to professional pianists playing in all genres, including the classics, jazz, contemporary, standards and cabaret, make up a roster of artists associated with Steinway and Sons. Many of them will be performing at the lounge throughout the 10 days of the auto show.
Pianists between the ages of 8 and 14, who are members of the Young Steinway Artists program and involved in a national competition, will be performing between 1 and 2 p.m. each day, and from noon to 5 p.m. on Family Day.
“It gives them a chance to get exposure and experience playing before an audience,” said Campbell.
Adult performers will be tickling the ivories in the early evening hours after the cocktail-style bar, serving wine, beer and spirits, opens at 5 p.m. daily.
And although it is a licensed space, the lounge will be open to both adults and youngsters.
When the human musicians aren’t playing, Steinway’s Spirio system will produce music on the grand piano so the melodies never stop as the auto show goes on.
Spirio is an automated high-definition piano system the company introduced in 2015.
Steinway and Sons is recording a catalogue of music for the Spirio’s repertoire, featuring over 1,700 Steinway Artists.
Performances are recorded, edited and presented in high-resolution audio, which captures the finest details from each artist’s work.