MAY 20, 2021 - George Takei has brought his iconic deep baritone timbre to a new project by renowned classical pianist Fabio Banegas. As noted in a recent press release, Banegas’ latest album, entitled Bottiroli Piano Works (Complete), Vol. 2 · Nocturnes, features the Star Trek actor as narrator for Five Piano Replies, a group of tracks at the album’s end that pair written poetry with instrumental piano.

Argentinian composer José Antonio Bottiroli, a mentor of Banegas who died in 1990, “had a deep fascination with the night sky and outer space”. The pieces on this album “paint beautiful, vespertinal scenes,” images of a dark evening and a starry sky.

Have a listen to one of the tracks:

According to the press release, “Choice collaborator George Takei enters, lending his iconic timbre to sincere, sage, and resonant narration. His legendary connection to Star Trek — a beloved franchise that intelligently promotes exploration, peace, and awe of the universe — makes him a fitting ambassador for these celestially-inspired works.”

The story also tells how Takei and Banegas met while standing in line for an architectural tour of Chicago, beginning a friendship that has now become a collaboration. 

Bottiroli Piano Works (Complete), Vol. 2 · Nocturnes releases on May 28th through Grand Piano, a specialist piano label from classical music distributor Naxos, and is available today for pre-order at amazon.com.