Child prodigy surprises shoppers with Liszt

1 November 2012, 12:52

Pianos have popped up all over Cambridge for members of the public to play - and an 11-year-old boy is impressing the crowds with his interpretations of virtuosic pieces.

An 11-year-old Liszt fan is taking Cambridge by storm with his public performances as part of the Play Me, I'm Yours piano project. George Harliono has been playing some of the 15 pianos on the streets of Cambridge, stationed outside as part of a musical art installation.

The pianos, designed and decorated by local artists and community groups, feature in public parks, streets and green spaces across Cambridge for the public to play and enjoy. Those taking part are invited to share photos, videos, or descriptions of their performances online.

George posted his piano playing experiences on his blog. "The piano was a lovely old one, with some nice carvings on it," he said. "But the stool was too low for me (I am not so tall yet) so it was quite difficult to play. But there were lots of people watching so it was good fun."

The Play Me, I'm Yours project is stationed in Cambridge until 3 November, as part of the University of Cambridge's Festival of Ideas, a free celebration of arts, humanities and social sciences. The art project has been touring internationally since 2008, with pianos popping up in cities around the world including New York, Sao Paolo, Sydney and Barcelona.