Requiem pour pianos

What remains of their finery ? Blown away marble, disemboweled fireplaces, torn hangings... Faced with Romain Thiery’s lens, these great houses have lost their glory. However, lurking in the shadows, astonishing wood and cast iron monsters with lacquered skin display their toothless smiles with ivory reflections. These pianos are the soul of the place, too heavy objects to be moved that the photographer unceasingly tracks down « even in the middle of a ruined space, the piano never ceases to preserve its power. He is there, he thrones with all his nobility. » The production of this series doesn’t leave anything to chance. It offers Romain Thiery the privilege of combining two passions, image and music. Amateur pianist fulfilled by Chopin, Bach, Beethoven or Satie, he also observes his mother, a photographer, exploring the heritage of Périgord. In 2008, it was love at first sight. He discovered a small 19th century castle and a piano, in the middle of a destroyed room. The fireplace was broken. Valuables and treasure had already disappeared. There was only this piano left. Romain Thiery holds the idea. He sets out on a quest to find these silent giants. He spent five years patiently establishing his network across Europe into various sections including music, real estate, heritage and associations. His dedication paid off. Since 2014, he has discovered more than a hundred pianos, in as many places of stunning beauty. Then he tries at least to play on the keyboards, to make them resonate when possible, to make those Steinway, Pleyel, Bechstein or Chapka & Son vibrate one last time lying in varying states of dilapidation. Then he notes the piano’s serial number, if it exists. Because Romain put his unique expertise at the service of the Musique & Spoliations association, which has set itself the task of finding the instruments looted by the Nazi regime.