This November, for the second year in a row, Katya Lebedeva — Professor of Piano at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music — will play a grand piano as it makes its way through the City's streets, as part of the Lord Mayor's Show. Here, Katya explains what it's like to play a concert that is moving in more ways than one.
There are huge advantages to playing a mobile piano.
You make the city your own as you take music you love to the people. It is a truly democratic act and a generous one on both sides. It also liberates you, the musician, from having to be flawless and makes you more engaged in the process of creative communication with your fellow humans.
I grew up in a very musical family. At the time of the Soviet Union (where I grew up) any Church activities were not allowed to people with positions in society. Yet my mum went around monasteries and collected old manuscripts of sacred music which she then performed with her choir. She was a real pioneer of sacred music at the time, and a rebel! My grandfather was an accomplished accordion player, but had to sell his instrument and a leather coat to pay for my mum's education and to buy her piano.
This was the piano on which I learnt too, and it still takes centre stage in my house.
He looked at me seriously and said "I have the truck!"
How did playing a mobile piano come about? Elisabeth Mainelli, Consort to the 695th Lord Mayor Michael Mainelli, asked me to provide a prize for the auction in the Grand Finale of the Lord Mayor's Appeal, which I did in the form of a concert. My concert was bought by John Burton, Chairman of the charity Pollinating London Together.
I presented the concert at the Ironmongers Hall, after which John asked me to dinner, where we exchanged ideas and aspirations. I explained that I strongly believe classical music should be accessible to all; if only the piano could be taken to a truck, one can play anywhere and be close to people. John looked at me seriously and said "I have the truck!"
"The moment the crowd doesn't like what you are playing, they voice it!"
The float last year was decorated beautifully with fresh flowers — a magnificent travelling garden with a grand Yamaha piano in the middle. We had to amplify the sound of the piano to make sure it cut through the noise of the crowds.
When I climbed on the top of the float, the feeling was amazing. It felt very secure and grand, being so high up, almost omnipresent! Once we started moving slowly through the streets of London, it got more and more exhilarating because thousands of people were out on the streets to cheer. I effectively became a street performer. The concept was to play pieces in the rhythm of a moving vehicle. Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee was played right in front of the Mansion House.
Street performing is a harsh but invaluable filter. It teaches a musician how to capture a distracted crowd's attention within seconds, command an "audience" without a traditional stage, and build a resilient, stage presence with no ego. The moment the crowd doesn't like what you are playing, they voice it! You don't get that in the concert hall.
I got so many declarations of love! Looking at people's faces as the float came fully into their vision and hearing and seeing the expressions of pure awe, was extremely rewarding. People danced, swayed, sung and expressed their joy alongside the float.
"When we turned into the narrow street, we immediately started jamming together"
The drummers band was not too far behind us, and when we turned into the narrow street we could hear each other and immediately started jamming together — hugely exciting and spontaneous. Then, at the very end of the parade, we were passing under a bridge on the way to the final stop and I played Melodie from Gluck's opera Orfeo ed Euridice. The acoustics were perfect, and everyone just listened. A magical moment.
For 2026, I have perfected the programme to reflect the rhythm, atmosphere and ecological message that we want to send to the world. There will be plenty of dances from composers such as Chopin and De Falla, as well as the marches of Prokofiev and beautiful music about nature by Grieg. Pollinating London Together will once again be presenting a beautiful float.
I really like the word 'pollinating'. It is not just about flowers and insects, but also about educating and inspiring minds; about bringing awareness through the beauty of music and nature.
