The Piano Boat returns to London’s canals

Innovative classical piano venue The Piano Boat is making its return to London’s waterways. After a hiatus following the death of co-founder and pianist Masayuki Tayama, fellow co-founder Rhiana Tayama has relaunched the floating concert venue with a new concert format and visiting talent.

Rhiana and Masayuki Tayama (pictured right) launched The Piano Boat in 2021, with the intention of combining their love for the serenity of Britain’s waterways and their talent for event planning and performance. Despite the pandemic, the boat grew steadily in popularity, with the duo presenting an imaginative programme of piano works and afternoon tea until Masayuki passed away in September 2023. After a year break, Rhiana Tayama is now relaunching the venue with a crew including her own family.

She said: ‘From right after Masa passed away, I knew I wanted to reopen the Piano Boat at some point, I just didn't know when that might be. So, I waited until it felt like the right time and it feels really good to be doing it again. There has been a lot of work, and I definitely couldn't have done it on my own, but the Piano Boat is so personal it just had to happen. I started with a different type of cruise, because I didn't want to recycle the same thing with a different musician, and it feels totally new and different, like starting a new chapter of the Piano Boat.’

The Rachmaninov, the extra wide narrowboat which the couple had custom-built in 2020, has reopened to the public with a new Moments Musicaux cruise format, presenting a selection of visiting pianists performing on the boat’s Steinway Model A grand piano. Future cruises are set to feature pianists including Kris Worsley, Emilie Capulet, Jill Morton, Graham Caskie (who collaborates with cellist Thomas Carroll for cruises in June).

Spanish pianist Juanjo Blázquez, who has featured frequently on The Piano Boat, said: ‘What really drives me as a person is connecting with people and the Piano Boat is such a perfect place to experiment with that connection as performers get to talk to the audience during their visit. I get so much from the audience while I play, but the fact that I get to get to know them then play for them, that's such a luxury that performers don’t get often – if ever. For me, it's so special, and it really allows me to experiment with things that I don’t usually get to.’