What is your favorite piano brand?

Lc Great to hear mention of the C, exclusive to the Hamburg factory. It’s unique in that it uses the full-sized concert grand action of the D in a smaller, 7-and-a-half-foot case. This model deserves more attention IMO but probably gets overlooked because it’s encountered so infrequently. Worth playing if you get an opportunity.

For Chopin, though, Fazioli’s aesthetic could hardly be more different. Chopin’s preferred instrument was Pleyel, and the Pleyels of his time had a warm, sweet tone with a delicate treble. Not that we can’t make use of opportunities for tone color that today’s instruments provide, but we should surely take the sound of composers’ instruments and their aesthetic into account. Today’s pianos are already so much more brilliant, especially in the treble, and all too often we hear Chopin interpreters overemphasize the treble on an already ear piercing piano, rather than playing with restraint.

I once had the opportunity to play Chopin on the exact model Pleyel (upright!) he had in Mallorca while composing the Preludes, from the same year. It was a revelation. Such a beautiful, warm yet also bright, singing, sweet tone, with a feathery treble. Nothing against Fazioli for music where it’s suitable, but it’s really the antithesis of Chopin’s sound world.

Albert That's a very good point Chopin and Pleyel. I haven't considered whole category of piano as a possibility. I haven't had the luck to play on one.  In that same train of thought,  I'd imagine tuning is perhaps important factor too.  

Kenneth Hoyle I have a Mason & Hamlin BB from 1998 or so.  Fantastic instrument.  Sarah Faust from NYC's Faust Harrison Pianos (who retailed new Masons at the time) knew I was looking; she called me one day and, in her authoritative/not-to-be-trifled-with way, simply said, "I have your piano."  She was right.  Because of the crown/action retention systems it weighs in at about 1,200 pounds.  Piano movers curse the sight of it because they know! 

Kenneth Hoyle I have a M&H BB from 1994, one of the last produced by Falcone.  I bought it in 2004, after trying a number of pianos in that size range.  For some reason, every Steinway B I tried had issues, and I never liked the sound of any of them.  But every BB I tried, from one built in the 1930s to one built in the 2000s, was just glorious.  I can't explain it but this weird experience keeps repeating itself.  I've tried a couple of Steinway Bs in recent years, and they just weren't very good, whereas even a M&H BB from the 1950s that I tried last year was pretty wonderful.  Maybe it's all just coincidence and luck, or perhaps due to the overwhelming popularity of Steinway vs. M&H.

Piano movers hate my BB.  I've had it moved from California to Vermont, then moved twice in Vermont, then back to California.  The last movers called it the "Mason and Heavy".

I've also had really good experiences with every Yamaha C7 I've tried, and would be happy to have one instead of the BB.

There's also a one-of-a-kind 1907 Blüthner concert grand at the Frederick Piano Collection museum in Ashburnham, MA, that I absolutely adore.  I've played it a few times, and it's incredible on Debussy.  But there's no hope of ever finding another one like that.  I highly recommend a visit to the Frederick Collection to anybody in the northern MA / southern NH/VT area.

Jenny Harrison I played some upright Steingraeber pianos recently when I was helping a student choose a new piano and was very impressed with them and thought they were really good value for money.

Angela Fogg I have owned a Steingraeber upright for five years and love it, I bought it sight unseen after hearing James Shawcross' amazing review on youtube. He thought it might be the best upright in the world.  I did pay someone to inspect it since it was thousands of miles away. This is why I suspected the quality of Steingraeber grands would also be impressive, and this turned out to be right. 

Jenny Harrison very interesting Jenny. Quite a brave thing to do so I’m glad it turned out so well!

Angela Fogg It was actually on eBay! I truly lucked out since Steingraebers are so rare in the U.S.. The price of $20k seemed fair. 

Jenny Harrison even more amazing! It was obviously meant to be!

pacchiarotti Which would you put first: Fazioli or Steingraeber?

Jenny Harrison pacchiarotti Steingraeber, hands down.

Jenny Harrison I have a feeling I would get the Steingraeber. I admit to not having played either. I actually think my playing would not be up to meeting the needs of the instruments.

pacchiarotti You’d be surprised at how quickly your ears and hands adapt to the instrument.