Steinway & Sons Announces New Record Label

Long Island City, NY — October 12, 2010 — Steinway & Sons today announced the launch of its new Steinway & Sons record label. The first release on this label, Bach On A Steinway, debuted last week at #3 on the Billboard Traditional Classical Album Chart.

Bach On A Steinway features keyboard masterworks by J. S. Bach as performed by virtuoso pianist Jeffrey Biegel, whose extensive embellishments and ornaments in a Baroque style give the recording a unique flavor. The album was produced by 15-time Grammy® winner Steven Epstein.

“Biegel is a sensitive and imaginative interpreter who brings this music to life,” writes Jed Distler of ClassicsToday.com. "This auspicious and superbly engineered debut bodes well for the success of this new label.”

Until corrective surgery at the age of 3, Jeffrey Biegel was unable to hear or speak. The “reverse Beethoven” phenomenon can explain Mr. Biegel's life in music, having heard only vibrations in his formative years. His electrifying technique and mesmerizing touch have garnered Mr. Biegel much critical acclaim, including high praise from Leonard Bernstein — who called him “a splendid musician and a brilliant performer.”

The Steinway & Sons label will highlight stars from Steinway's Concert & Artist program performing on exceptional Steinway grand pianos. Each of the planned four releases per year will feature a repertoire with broad appeal.

“The opportunity to bring the talents of Steinway Artists to the public through new recordings, impeccably produced and engineered, has always been an exciting concept for us at Steinway & Sons,” said Ron Losby, President, Steinway & Sons — Americas. “We are thrilled with the early success of this new venture.”

Recordings on the Steinway & Sons label are produced by ArkivMusic, LLC, a subsidiary of Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc., and can be purchased at ArkivMusic.com, Amazon.com, iTunes and other fine music retailers. Naxos of America is the exclusive wholesale distributor for the label.

About ArkivMusic
ArkivMusic, The Source for Classical Music (http://www.arkivmusic.com) is an online retailer of classical music. ArkivMusic has the largest selection of classical music recordings in the U.S., with access to over 90,000 titles from over 1,500 labels, including over 9,000 titles in its ArkivCD reissue program of manufacturing previously out-of-print recordings on a just-in-time basis.

Press Contact:
Amanda Sweet
Bucklesweet Media
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(202) 636–3507

About Steinway & Sons
Since its founding in New York in 1853, Steinway & Sons has been considered the world's premier piano manufacturer. Known for their exceptional craftsmanship, Steinway & Sons pianos are built in one of two company-owned and operated factories: Astoria, New York and Hamburg, Germany. Steinway & Sons pianos are still constructed primarily by hand, using many of the techniques developed over 160 years ago. Today, Steinway & Sons also offers the Boston and Essex piano lines, Listen, a magazine for music and culture lovers, and the Steinway & Sons record label. For more information, visit www.steinway.com.

Press Contact:
Anthony Gilroy
Steinway & Sons
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(718) 204–3116