SPITFIRE AUDIO Château Piano

An instantly recognisable sound from iconic albums

Deep within Château d'Hérouville, just north of Paris, lies a timeless piece of pop music history. This isn't just a piano; it's the iconic 1901 Steinway B grand – once owned by film composer Michel Magne – heard across era-defining albums from Elton John, David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, and many more. The legendary ‘Strawberry Studios’ closed in 1985, falling into disrepair until its reopening in 2020. With passionate new owners and following a painstaking restoration by master tuner Bastien Herbin, the piano’s 124-year-old soul has been preserved and even enhanced, maintaining every ounce of its distinctive personality while achieving remarkable playability.

An undeniably classic tone, equally suitable for media composers and producers, Château Piano is the definitive sound of a golden era in rock and pop. Known equally for its bright, percussive attack – think Crocodile Rock– that cuts perfectly through a dense mix, as the warmth and resonance that adds heart to Rocket Man, Daniel, or Goodbye,Yellow Brick Road, this gorgeous grand piano has been exquisitely captured with a collection of valve and condenser microphones, including a pair vintage Neumann U67s in the same positioning as the original Elton John recordings. Alongside onboard effects, more than 50 presets, and multiple microphone signals, Château Piano gives you both the inspirational authentic sounds, and the tools to make it your own.

Strawberry Studios –A creative sanctuary

Transformed from an 18th-century manor into the world's first residential studio in 1962 by composer Michel Magne, Château d’Hérouville AKA Strawberry Studios quickly became a creative sanctuary for the titans of 70s music. Within the magical acoustics of its George Sand live room, artists like Elton John felt so inspired they recorded a trio of classic albums—including Honky Château, named in its honour. Pink Floyd, Chet Baker, Joan Armatrading and The Bee Gees all cut records there, and countless others from French legends Jacques Higelin and Alain Kan to international rockstars Marc Bolan and Iggy Pop leaving their mark. After the studio closed in 1985, this monument to music lay dormant for 30 years, its story fading into myth. It became the stuff of legend and mystique – rumours circulated that the ghost of Frédéric Chopin still haunts the master bedroom, as reported by Tony Visconti, David Bowie and Brian Eno during the Low recording sessions.

In 2015, a new chapter began. A team of passionate engineers and musicians purchased the château, dedicating themselves to a full restoration—not just of the buildings, but of its spirit. At the heart of this revival is the piano. Carefully brought back to life by master tuner Bastien Herbin, the goal was never to make it perfect, but to preserve its unique, 124-year-old personality. This library is the culmination of that journey, an effort to immortalise and share the inspiring sound of this incredible place.

Immortalised: A legacy preserved

The revival of the Château d'Hérouville is driven by its new owners, Jean Taxis and Thierry Garacino. Both are accomplished sound engineers and musicians who saw the project not as a business venture, but as a mission to save a vital piece of cultural heritage. Their philosophy has been to honour the château's history and timeless acoustics while discreetly integrating modern technology to carry its legacy into the future.

They understood that the château is more than just a studio; it's a place that inspires creativity. Every artist who works there creates something they wouldn't have made anywhere else. This collaboration with Spitfire Audio was born from that same spirit: to transmit the soul of the château and its most famous resident, the piano, to creators all over the world.