The Piano (2023– ) User Reviews

If you love piano playing...

[anotherbloodyidiot · 9/10 · 9 March 2023]

You will love this in you enjoy piano. Some of the stories behind the scenes will bring you to tears and the people come from all walks of life and all ages.

My partner who plays at a high level really enjoyed watching this, and seeing the different styles of piano playing on display. The format is good and presents multiple people playing in public places so you get a good feel that it's not staged like a lot of reality shows.

Can't wait for the final episode to see how they go at Festival Hall in the final (Not that they knew it was a contest as such).

All up a worthy watch and hopefully sees a season 2.

A heartwarming affirmation of amateur talent

[Subtlesecret · 8/10 · 15 March 2023]

Ignore that terrible review from someone who is clearly looking for something to criticise. This series showcases the clear talent that so many people in Britain posses and gives them the opportunity, firstly, to demonstrate that talent to the public on railway stations and, secondly, to showcase that superb ability to a wider audience via the television.

Mika and Lang Lang are a sideshow, airing their views about the performers, although they are always positive about the performances. Make no mistake, however, the real stars of this series are the pianists, who show an amazing range of talent and who frequently share stories that will tug at your heartstrings.

Unless, that is, you are so jaded that you can't see that.

Pianist Envy.

[southdavid · 6/10 · 2 May 2024]

Just a quick review here as I decided after the first episode that I'd seen all that "The Piano" had to offer and that I wasn't going to watch any more. Its not my sort of thing, and I only watched the first episode as the series appeared on the Guardian's best TV of 2023 list and I'm trying to give them all a chance.

Pianos have been a staple of the UK's larger train stations for years, offering a distraction and entertainment to people waiting for their journey. This series encourages volunteers, to play in front of the cameras and commuters. The twist is that they're also being judged by popular artist Mika and renowned pianist Lang Lang, and the winner of the competition will perform at a special concert at the Royal Festival Hall.

This falls into the "nice" bracket of reality TV. There are no delusional people thrown in front of the cameras for the public's amusement - everyone is a really good pianist, and each have a backstory that helps fulfil that narrative of why they should win. Claudia Winkleman presents and she's as enthusiastic and quirky as she always is. A couple of contenders play and disappear, and in the end wrap up it becomes apparent that several people have participated who we've not seen play a note - but four or five key players get the full 'camera at home', 'meet the parents' type back story video packages, as it's clear that the winner is going to come from one of those.

It's a show designed to tug on the heart strings and it's quite successful at it. I can certainly see why people enjoyed it but I felt I'd seen all it had going for it by the end of the first episode and that I could move on without watching any more.