At the Crossroads of Music & Machine: the dawn of the player-piano

Join internationally acclaimed pianist Rex Lawson for a unique live concert and talk exploring the extraordinary world of the pianola. Through virtuosic performances and engaging commentary, Lawson reveals how this remarkable instrument transformed music-making, preserving the artistry of some of history's greatest pianists long before the digital age.

Discover how music and machine came together to shape modern musical culture in an evening that combines performance, history and technology.

The concert forms part of At the Crossroads of Music and Machine: The Player Piano, a Being Human Festival project exploring the relationship between music, technology and society.

This event is part of Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities, taking place 5-14 November 2026. Led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy. 

For further information, please see beinghumanfestival.org

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