Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum What Yahama is this used in a classical music concert?

https://youtu.be/ZOvR4Nm_uZo

Please forgive my absolutely n00b-vete.

Is this the CFX? And what would be the rationale (if any) for using a Yahama in this case when you have 2 Steinway grand pianos at the back?

Assuming they work perfectly, is there a reason for this? Music is better? Again, sorry for being this n00b.

In high-end international competitions, there is usually more than one piano available of different manufacture so that the performers can choose the piano that best suits their taste and the music they intend to play.

It's not a case of "better." Pianos are very individual in their touch and tone, and different pianists, being individuals, have different tastes and preferences.

Regards,

It's not THAT unusual for a pianist to prefer a Yamaha over a Steinway. Even at some of the top concert halls you'll see a Yamaha pop up every now and then. For example, Andre Watts used a Yamaha with the New York Philharmonic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rW6Ggk9ofU

I've also seen a Yamaha used for chamber music at the NYP. It just comes down to preference of the artist.

By the way, yes, I do think that's a CFX based on the acute angle at the corner.

See this video on how you can tell the difference between a CFX and other Yamaha concert grands. He also makes some interesting points about why Yamahas are often preferred by concert pianists. The notion that Yamaha is preferred by jazz artists and Steinway is always preferred for classical is an over-generalization.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wESTwIyu3DY&t=688s

With a million dollars plus of pianos sitting there, could they not afford to have a few extra benches on hand so they could be set up off stage and have it brought on ready to go?

There were already two other benches on stage; one at the Fazioli (on the right as the performer came) in and one on the extreme left (Steinway, maybe?), both tucked neatly under the keyboard of each instrument. With stage hands ready to move pianos surely they would also be placing benches at the pianos to be used by the performers.

What makes you think that the venue doesn't have more benches, although three on stage should be sufficient for one solo pianist at a time, don't you think?

Regards,

The Yamaha CFX is one of the the finest pianos in the world. Listen to how it sounds.

Because she spent a full minute adjusting her bench at the beginning before playing. Why not adjust the bench prior to the performance and just have it brought on stage already adjusted? It seems odd to have to stare at such a world class performer while she awkwardly adjusts the bench when it seems like there is a simple solution to avoid the need for it.

I am NOT a professional concert pianist, but I have been in a position where I sit down at a piano and just feel uncomfortable, even if I have already sat at the same piano recently. I do not have a "set height" that I sit at.

In this case, the artist was likely following another player who liked a different height, I think. Even so, some pianists sit differently depending on the piece, and sometimes depending on the particular piano. It is a very personal thing that is not a "set height" for anyone I know.

My teacher has also suggested that the bench height adjustments, the movement of the bench closer to and further away for the piano, the pulling out the handkerchief are ways for the concert pianist to take a few minutes to calm anxiety before playing. Thoughts?

And its action is also very good according to one professional I asked.

Since the CFX lists for $180,000 (MSRP and SMP), it better doggone well be one of the finest pianos in the world.