The Floating Piano Boat “Rachmaninov” Returns to London’s Canals

The floating concert venue is open again and is continuing the legacy of its late co-founder Masayuki Tayama

Known as the Rachmaninov, Rhiana and Masayuki Tayama’s innovative Piano Boat first launched in 2021 as a “new way of bringing classical music to audiences in and around London.”

The 67-foot-long boat carries a Steinway piano and seating for 12 people. It had completed its concert cruises in 2023, until the passing of Masayuki in September that same year. 

“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,” Rhiana said. “So, I waited until it felt like the right time and it feels really good to be doing it again.”

Born in Japan, Masayuki grew up in London, where he made his radio debut at age 10, and went on to win several competition prizes. He specialized in the piano works of Rachmaninov, though was equally adept at the music of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, and more. 

(PC: The Piano Boat)

Masayuki’s love of the canals and sense of peace he found on the waterways first inspired the Piano Boat project, which started construction during 2019 and 2020. 

Fitted with a multi-fuel stove, air-conditioning, and a quality surround-sound system, Rachmaninov features traditional nautical and concert hall elements alongside an environmentally-friendly Hybrid engine and airy skylight. 

More information on cruise bookings can be found here. 

“I started with a different type of cruise,” Rhiana added, “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.”