Have you seen the new SKODA TV advert? Did you notice the gorgeous Bosendorfer 280VC grand piano, incredibly lit and with stunning reflections?
Coach House Pianos were pleased to supply this concert grand for use in the advert at the request of Pianist and Composer Alexis Ffrench, who was among the artists called by SKODA to be part of their new ‘I Gotta Be Me’ advertising campaign.
He was invited, along with Paloma Faith, Kingdom Choir, The Sherlocks and Lady Leshurr, to perform his own interpretation of the classic Sammy Davis Jr. track, I Gotta Be Me, and he wanted the best piano he could find to play it on.
Alexis Ffrench fell in love with piano at a young age. At four years old he ‘played the table’, since his family didn’t own a piano (he still advocates this as a teaching technique today). At six-years old he loved to write string quartets in his little red notebook and from aged seven he played in church every Sunday, for weddings and funerals and on every holiday. During this period, he learnt to improvise and discovered a unique ability to ‘see’ music, meaning that he could write down complex musical scores by ear.
His parents gifted him with a battered old piano to play, realising his extraordinary talent, and from then on, his career as a pianist has gone from strength to strength. He studied at the Purcell School for Young Musicians, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal Academy of Music and has gone on to perform in prestigious venues, write film scores, release an album on Sony Music and partner with global brands such as Barclaycard, Mortlach Whiskey and SKODA on successful advertising campaigns.
Ffrench’s primary passion is to change the perception of classical music, making it more inclusive, democratic and relevant. He’d love to see a more eclectic selection of people in the audience at Last Night of the Proms as an encouragement that classical music is alive and adaptable, not elitist.
At Coach House Pianos, we love Alexis’ music and his passion, and were thrilled when he contacted us about sourcing a piano. He decided that a Bosendorfer 280VC was the best to feature with him in the SKODA ad.
The 280VC is a Vienna concert grand from the legendary Bosendorfer manufacturers, who handcraft the finest instruments over a period of about 62 weeks. The pianos boast unique characteristics, such as their solid spruce inner and outer rims and sustaining and singing tone. They are known to have a tone that “sings forever”.
Professional pianists and masters in sound crafting have been involved in reimagining the previous Bosendorfer model, and what they have created in the 280VC is a sleek and elegant looking instrument with a crystal-clear sound.
It is hard not to be impressed by this grand piano and Alexis loved playing it. If you’d like to find out more about this model, or any other piano we have in, then please get in touch.
