In 2021 Yannick Wijnants (Atelier Herkenrode) completed the restoration of the so-called 'Peter Benoit piano', a concert grand piano by the firm Pleyel, Wolff & Cie from 1884. Thanks to this restoration, and thanks to the support of the Peter Benoit Fund, music lovers can, for the first time in decades, once again become acquainted with the warm sound of this magnificent instrument. Since the piano arrived in Antwerp in 1895, it has also had an intriguing connection with one of Flanders' most famous composers: Peter Benoit (1834-1901).
Since 1967 Museum Vleeshuis, in permanent loan from the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp, has housed a concert grand piano from 1884, built by the renowned Paris firm Pleyel: the Benoit-Pleyel. Since the early 20th century, the instrument has been associated with the name of none other than Peter Benoit (1834-1901), composer, conductor and founder of the Antwerp conservatoire.
The instrument had become unplayable over the years and was restored to playable condition in 2020-2021, in consultation with the Conservatoire and thanks to the Peter Benoit Fund.
The restoration
Yannick Wijnants from Atelier Herkenrode talks passionately about the restoration of the 'Benoit-Pleyel' piano.
The clients wanted this musical heritage to sound again, so that future generations can also become acquainted with the late 19th-century sound world of Peter Benoit and his contemporaries. Respect for the historical and heritage value of the instrument is central.
The restoration is financed by the Peter Benoit Fund, which in this way contributes to the preservation of important (Flemish) musical heritage. After restoration, the piano will be exhibited in Museum Vleeshuis and used for concerts featuring late 19th-century and early 20th-century music.
The restorer
The Peter Benoit Fund, with the approval of the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp, decided to award the restoration of this historic piano to Atelier Herkenrode, led by Yannick Wijnants.
Impressions of the restoration process.
Artisanal craftsmanship is central to Yannick's approach and he preserves the historical value of the instrument as much as possible. The Peter Benoit Fund deliberately chose a young restorer. This way, the complex and special knowledge required for the restoration of historic instruments can also be developed, preserved and put into practice by a new generation.
Yannick Wijnants worked among others with Philippe Jolly and Pianos Balleron where he gained extensive experience tuning, regulating and restoring historic French concert grand pianos by such makers as Pleyel, Erard, Pape, Rollers & Blanchet and Gaveau. He also interned with the renowned pianoforte restorer and builder Christopher Clarke. Recently he established his own workshop, Atelier Herkenrode. He has just completed the restoration of an almost identical instrument.
Cahier and Google Arts & Culture
Upon completion of the restoration, Museum Vleeshuis published a cahier titled Between Antwerp and Paris: The 'Peter Benoit piano' by Pleyel, Wolff & Cie, 1884. In this cahier, four experts tell more about the piano, about Peter Benoit and his piano repertoire and about the restoration. The cahier is available for purchase at the museum and through the bookstore.
You can also discover more about the instrument and its restoration in a presentation on Google Arts & Culture.