17 April,2011 06:59 AM IST | | Yolande D'Mello
Chinese pianist Yuja Wang will be the first to play the Steinway grand concert piano at the NCPA tonight. Music curators predict that a lot more international artistes will stop over at the city to pound a note or two on the Rolls-Royce of pianos
If you are seated in the rear rows of the Tata Theatre, NCPA tonight, you may have to crane your neck to get a glance of the ebony gloss finish of the Steinway Model D. But you can be assured that no matter where you sit, the music from this grand concert piano will find you.
Yuja Wangu00a0will inaugurate the Steinway Model D piano tonight at
Tata Theatre
Anthony Gomes, partner at iconic music store Furtados, who has sourced the piano from Germany explains, "Steinway pianos are made to sustain vibrations. That means the music lasts longer till it reaches every ear."
The piano is nine feet long and five feet wide, and costs Rs 1.6 crore.
To ensure that it was delivered in pristine condition, it arrived last week in a custom-made box that cost Rs 4 lakh. Not just that. It also requires specific conditions in which to be housed. "We are building a special room near the Furtados store where we will house the piano. The atmosphere temperature of the room needs to be at 18 degrees Celsius and humidity at 40 per cent," says Gomes.
The Steinway Model D piano is nine feet long and five feet wide, and has
an ebony gloss finish. pic/prathik panchamia
While the piano may sound frightfully expensive, it has its advantages. Well-known international pianists are known to first discuss the instrument they will play before deciding whether they will entertain an audience. "We are sure to see a lot more international acts coming to the city now that we have the world's best piano," adds Gomes, who plans to rent out the instrument for performances.
The piano will make its debut today with a recital by 23 year-old Beijing-based Yuja Wang. She is being presented by the Mehli Mehta Music Foundation and has two albums to her name. According to critics, Wang is a 'genius at the keyboard'.
At: 7 pm, Tata Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point
Call: 22824567
Why one piano costs more than the other
Materials: The quality of timber used affects the price of the piano. Good quality wood is well seasoned and can adapt better to weather conditions. The Steinway Model D is made from Alaska Sitka spruce.
Sound: The 'tone' of the piano also decides the price. Reputed pianos have an unmistakable tone. Superior materials produce a superior tone.
Touch and response: Getting a good feel from the piano affects the sound of it. Absence of synthetic parts ensures the touch is more comfortable.
