AN OPERA house is hoping three new grand pianos will be the key to success as they rival the standards of "the world's leading performance venues".

Glyndebourne concert hall, near Lewes, took delivery the new huge Steinway and Sons pianos which marks one of the large single deliveries of the new instruments a UK venue in a decade.

Steven Naylor, Glyndebourne’s director of artistic administration, and pianist Duncan Williams were accompanied by Keith Glazebrook of Steinway and Sons to complete the selection of these three pianos at the Steinway and Sons Hamburg factory.

Each instrument was hand selected to make sure they were ideally suited to each of the three locations in the opera house where they will be housed.

Mr Naylor said: “Good music making starts from the very first day of music and production rehearsals in the studio. Rehearsal accompanists are required to substitute for the orchestra and, as such, they have to summon an array of colours, sonority, dynamic and nuance. The superb quality of Steinway pianos enables them to create an orchestral sound world of multifarious stylistic detail, whether it be Handel, Mozart, Verdi, Wagner or Britten - a joy to listen to for the cast and a delight to play for the hard working accompanists.”

The largest of the trio, a Steinway and Sons concert grand, will be situated in the orchestra pit of the auditorium and will be used in all main stage rehearsals and productions where a piano is needed.

Ian Julier, senior music librarian at Glyndebourne, said: "The three new Steinway and Sons pianos represent an industry gold standard addition to Glyndebourne's piano inventory."

Glyndebourne is a privately funded charity which relies on support from donors.

The purchase of the pianos was made possible through the opera house's annual fundraising drive.

Mr Glazebrook said: “We are thrilled that Glyndebourne are now able to offer its pianists instruments that rival the standard available at the majority of the world’s leading performance venues.

"As a result of the generous support of Glyndebourne’s donors, these instruments can now be enjoyed by the musicians and audiences for many years to come."