Not every piano is a Stein…
NewsAn arresting start to Peter Donohoe’s new series of Haydn’s complete keybard works on Signum Records.
Not just the opening track of Haydn’s little known variations on the Austrian imperial anthem, ever so slightly giggly and irreverent.
But the piano sound was unusual in being both delicate and robust.
Clearly not an antique, but a modern instrument of great evocative flexibility.
So not a Steinway.
The sleeve notes did not specify.
So I asked Peter Donohoe and got this reply:
It is a Steingräber. The first release was recorded at the Steingräber factory in Bayreuth; because of Covid we were prevented from going to Bayreuth for the second release – due next year – so we brought the Steingräber to the UK instead.
It’s a stunner.
Thanks for the heads-up Norman – I’ve just ordered my copy. I’ve also recently invested in Artur Pizarro’s complete Beethoven piano concertos played on a (Bech)stein…
Love Peter’s playing, him and his down to earth no nonsense British approach to the classical music world. No pretence or preciousness whatsoever.
I bought a new Steingraeber a couple of years ago, the B192 6 foot grand. I auditioned it against similar sized instruments from Boesendorfer, Fazioli, Steinway and Shigeru Kawai, and it was for me the clear choice. It seems particularly suited to playing early Romantic repertoire, especially Schumann, but is wonderful on all repertoire. It’s also appealing to own an instrument handmade in small numbers in a workshop in Bavaria.