In the video shared by Artfarm, the hotel’s owning company, CEO Ewan Venters, Sharleen Spiteri, and Judi Dench were captured performing ABBA’s 1974 hit “Waterloo.” Spiteri took on the vocals while Dench, showcasing her virtuosity, skillfully played the piano.
Ewan Venters disclosed to PA Media, “They had met previously, but after dinner, they met in the lobby and took to the piano. Guests were somewhat shocked but loved it!”
In the video, as Dench joyfully played the piano, Spiteri exclaimed, “What a pianist!” The footage garnered over 600,000 views on Twitter since its release on January 1, 2023.
While the audience was thoroughly impressed with Dench and Spiteri’s duet, it was later revealed that Dench was theatrically putting on a show. Displaying the finesse of a seasoned pianist, Dench convincingly played the piano, which was, in fact, self-playing. Despite the keys moving on their own, Dench maintained her poise and confidence, proving once again why she earned an Oscar.
Observant viewers noted the self-playing mechanism, with keys moving even when Dench’s hands were not directly on them. Fans of the two artists flooded the comment sections, praising the duo for their entertaining New Year’s Eve performance. One commenter humorously remarked, “The joke is on us!! Well done ladies!” Another fan playfully suggested, “Piano has a life of its own. Super funny. She can play that with the power of her brain.”
