Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Liszt's Bechstein: is it still in NYC???

I posted the following on the Pianists forum. But I am hoping a Bechstein dealer or one of the neighbours on Piano Row (?Jeff Bauer?) may know: is the piano still at the Bechstein show room in NYC??

I had read that this piano dating from 1862 was at the Bechstein showroom here in NYC and may be also at NAMM. I just found a YT recording of Sandro Russo playing beautifully the Schubert-Liszt Ave Maria on it.
It is hard to assess sound qualities off a YT excerpt but it does sound great.
The pianist is quite good (I listened to his Variations Serieuses among others). Has anyone heard him live??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvW8NrtR52Y

I think the piano sounds very nice but even if it sounded terrible I'd want to see it and play it if they allow.

I'm sure Russo is a terrific pianist ,but I think his performance drags quite a bit.

Dear people

just found this conversation. For those still interested: The piano now stands in Berlin at the Bechstein Centre.
In August last year I had the opportuinity to make some recordings. These can be found on Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0KekFUMqAw&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Previously I had the abilty to play another Liszt Bechstein (but the movie really sounds terrible) in Weimar. I placed the movie since the ambiance and atmospahere really were "holy"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuSLq82Pj8A&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Thank you for posting Anna.

Piano World members visited the Weimar Museum last summer when we were touring 'all things piano related' in Germany. We were not allowed to touch the piano but was at least allowed to look under the fallboard for a few minutes!

Yes, the place was very inspiring.

We missed the Liszt Steingraeber when visiting that museum/factory. It was out on performances.

I enjoyed your performances. Thank you for sharing.

Roberta

There must exist some 20++ "Liszt Bechstein Grand" pianos, really. (Or once must have been existed, until the World Wars..)

I also know the one with the "Bass Belly Expansion" shown in Berlin, Stilwerk, Bechstein Headquarter.

Karl Bechstein sent every year one newest concert grand to Liszt to Weimar, and let the former "old one" taken home to Berlin. The concert grand of 1862 might have been the very first one of this "Liszt Bechstein Grand Exchange Game" (.. ). Liszt lived until 1886, so if Bechstein told the truth then there might exist some 20 or 25 grands for Liszt's personal use.

We a german piano enthusiast group were in Berlin and were allowed to play with the 1862 Concert Grand in the Stilwerk exhibition hall.

(..I did not dare this.. I was too shy..)
;-)

Piano has nice sonore sound. Very nice playing too.

But you can hear it's all 1862 technology: I hear some rattling (something with the pedal?), the middle register sounds a bit worn and that first melody tone at 0:31 has a weird "clang".

And there seems some technical problem, at 2:06 the balance seems to shift to the right in a for me annoyingly amount.

I wonder if it would have sounded like this in 1862

Nice dynamic balance. Expressive pianissimo range. Was the instrument referred to as a "Piano"? The same as we call it today?

Hi folks

glad that you liked my contribution.

Yes, it was referred to as a piano. And it is true, the mechanism is very old and you have to get used to it. But this went pretty quick.
Had to get used to the low height as well. I hardly "fitted under it".
Of course the sound is different, but bearing in mind its age we were pretty surprised about the reachable volume e.g. with Waldesrauschen.
In august I hope to have a new opportunity to record some other Liszt compositions in Berlin.

The compositions will come from the programme that I will play for the Italian Liszt society in Bologna (october 21, 12 just before Liszt Birthday) opening their concert season.
This will be on an 1860 Liszt Steinway owned by the institute.
If allowed, I will publish some recordings.

Kind regards Anna

I was there when he played that piano. I have produced recitals for him, and he played the Centennial in my gallery last week. He is quite a terrific pianist. I do think the piano is still there on 58th street see http://www.meiselgallery.com/LKMG/musicians/

Just checked, and it IS NOT here anymore

Hi Folks

No this Bechstein nr 576 is back to Berlin. It is displayed at Bechstein HQ's at Am Stillwerk, Berlin.
You can see it in my recordings at YouYube which were made there.

K rgds Anna

Ps Carl Bechstein gave Liszt a new piano each year. The "old" one hag increased a lot in value since it was Liszt's personal gp. The one in my Weimar movie was the last Liszt Bechstein,