I admit it, I am a chauvinistic Mechelen native. Born and raised. When you get to attend the opening – yes, covid-safe – of a new piano shop in the magnificent and restored city palace 'Hof van Cortenbach' – a jewel of beautiful Keldermans Gothic – then you sign up. Not only is the collection of pianos surprising, with no clue how they made it into the building, but you immediately get to know a world-class singer through a sort of improvised little concert.
Chris Taerwe and his team of colleagues worked their socks off to be able to open their second piano shop. Quatre Mains Piano's now houses itself in the city palace Hof van Cortenbach, which was on the verge of collapse just a few years ago. The city of Mechelen was able to expropriate the building after lengthy proceedings and took care of the structural shell work and sought investors and tenants to fill the space. A restaurant was supposed to come, but that story went wrong. Even before the initiators could open, they unfortunately had to close the doors for good because of the coronavirus crisis before they could open for the first time. Quatre Mains took the opportunity to open a second piano shop in this attractive historically valuable building, which complements the existing shop in Gent.
By the way, it won't stop at the sale of concert grands and other pianos, there are plans to hold small-scale concerts. The inner courtyard has unexpectedly good acoustics and lends itself to open-air concerts. The guests got a preview with a mini concert by soprano Elise Caluwaerts, her partner bass Matthew Rose and pianist Anthony Romaniuk. We've known Elise for some time, and she proved once again in this rather spontaneous small concert her great musicality and command of a broader repertoire where she readily switches from one style to another. A real revelation was meeting Matthew Rose, a voice of absolute world class. What depth, effortlessly sustained and compelling, warm, arresting, soft and moving. The Australian pianist with Ukrainian roots and resident in Antwerp but at home in Mechelen Anthony Romaniuk succeeded particularly well in maintaining contact with the singers and accompanying them with refined piano playing. Not so simple when the singers stand on a balcony and you sit inside with only some contact thanks to an open door to the singers.
In short, Mechelen once again has a piano shop in the city center – finally – and it's immediately a top-class establishment in an environment that seems made for it. We wish Quatre Mains Piano's in the oldest part of the city of Mechelen much success.
Concert photos: © LVM / Klassiek Centraal
Shop photos: © Quatre Mains