Salon Piano Series

08/26/2026

5 Questions with Ariel Lanyi

We asked pianist Ariel Lanyi five questions—from his dream musical work to his pre-performance routine and the piece he can’t wait to share with the SPS audience.

1. If you could choose just ONE piece or work to listen to for the rest of your life, what would it be?
“There are too many to choose from, but if I absolutely had to choose one, perhaps Wagner’s Ring Cycle.”

2. Do you have any pre-performance rituals or routines?
“I don’t have any one ‘ritual’ or routine I do before performing, mostly I try by whatever means necessary to keep my hands warm. I am a bit wary of sticking to the same routine before every performance, because every performance is, indeed, different.”

3. What’s the strangest place you’ve ever performed?
“I don’t actually know… maybe on a pop-up piano in the middle of a busy street, right next to a noisy bar before a competition final.”

4. If you could spend an afternoon making music with any composer, who would it be?
“Tough question! But maybe Haydn or Bartók…”

5. What are you most looking forward to performing for the SPS audience?
“Few works move me as much as the Diabelli Variations. It is Beethoven’s Ars poetica, his love-letter to his craft. He takes the simplest and most naive of themes, and shows the sheer scope of what can be done using this medium. He plunges into the depth of pathos and tragedy, but never loses his inimitable sense of humour. I cannot wait to share it with the audience of SPS!”

Join us for Ariel Lanyi at Salon Piano Series! 🎹
https://salonpianoseries.org/tickets

08/18/2026

🎹 Can’t make it to every Salon Piano Series concert? You can still experience the music.

Our YouTube channel features recordings of SPS artists captured live at Farley’s House of Pianos—so you can revisit a favorite performance, discover an artist you missed, or simply enjoy beautiful piano music from home.

Every SPS artist is recorded by our audio/video team of Tom Moss and Marv Nonn. The result? A chance to experience the artistry, sound, and intimacy of SPS long after the concert ends.

🎥 Watch, listen, and discover SPS on YouTube. Give us a follow so you never miss a video!

https://www.youtube.com//featured

08/14/2026

So many congrats, Hilda Huang!

We’d like to extend our congratulations to former Salon Piano Series performer Hilda Huang on winning the second prize at the MA International Competition for Harpsichord in Bruges last week! MA Festival Brugge is one of the oldest and most prestigious competitions for early music and for harpsichord in the world, and we are so thrilled for her.

Hilda visited Farley’s House of Pianos in March 2026, where she played a wonderful recital on clavichord, harpsichord, organ, and piano, in addition to a lecture and a masterclass. Bravo, Hilda!

📸 by Kent Sweitzer

08/09/2026

If you’ve been thinking about joining us for the 2026–27 Salon Piano Series, now is a great time to grab a Season Ticket!

For $250, you’ll enjoy the full season of intimate performances at Salon Piano Series—and save $50 compared with purchasing tickets at the door.

Seven wonderful artists. Six memorable evenings. One very special setting.

We’d love to have you with us for the season! Visit https://salonpianoseries.org/tickets to purchase.

Select the concerts you wish to purchase by selecting the appropriate amount of tickets from the dropdowns. Click the View Student Tickets button to purchase tickets at student pricing.

07/26/2026

Every piano has its own personality 🎹

The sound, touch, history, and character of an instrument can completely change the way a musician approaches a piece—and for a vocalist, the right piano can make all the difference in how their voice is supported and complemented. That's part of the magic of hearing live music at SPS: you're experiencing the artist and the instrument together.

When Laura Ward and Randall Scarlata’s recital was approaching at SPS, the Farley’s team of technicians was working hard in early 2023 to finish Model 115013, which would especially showcase the February vocal recital (a first for Salon Piano Series). When the musicians arrived, they discovered another Model D in an adjacent room, No. 56449, which had been completed the year before. Renée recalls, “Laura came to me and asked if they could play the offstage piano instead. As it turned out, it was a much better match for Scarlata’s voice.” And so it was that the 1886 debuted with their recital.

"What a great luxury of Farley’s setting out several exquisite instruments from which we could choose. We found a stunning instrument that ideally matched our program!" —RANDALL SCARLATA

07/24/2026

Salon Piano Series is hiring an Administrative Director! This role is ideal for someone who enjoys balancing administrative detail with strategic planning while helping present world-class piano performances that enrich the Madison community. Click on the job description below to learn more!

Administrative Director – Salon Piano Series Salon Piano Series seeks an organized, collaborative, and creative Administrative Director to oversee the organization's operations, marketing, fundraising, and concert administration. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys balancing administrative ....

07/15/2026

🎹 Your soundtrack to the upcoming Salon Piano Series season has arrived!

We've created a Spotify playlist featuring music from this year's artists—from Beethoven and Chopin to Florence Price, Piazzolla, Amy Beach, George Benjamin, and more.

Whether you're counting down until opening night or just looking for something beautiful to listen to-- we've got you covered.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6SLVWuP9Ma0GjE4qC0FvOU?si=7fmpWGe9SSivj4phUpgK8w

07/10/2026

One of our favorite traditions.

After each Salon Piano Series performance, we invite our guest artists to sign one of the pianos at Farley's. Over the years, it's become a pretty incredible collection of names—and a fun way to look back on all the musicians who've shared their artistry with our audience.

Do you recognize any signatures?

07/06/2026

It's always exciting to see our new season postcard arrive in the mail! 🎉

Each postcard represents months of planning and anticipation of another season of unforgettable music. We can't wait to welcome you back for another year of extraordinary performances.

Have you received yours yet? Let us know which concert you're most looking forward to!