Sic transit.... looking backwards and forwards

[John Delacour]

At 2:20 pm +0100 4/4/07, David Boyce wrote:

>...Some years ago, very close to where the Erard is, I tuned a 
>really old Collard and Collard grand, perhaps around 1860, and I 
>would love to see it again some time.

I haven't much experience with Collard grands but those I have met 
with are very fine-sounding.  Unfortunately they are always let down 
by the action.

>...Curiously, the few CDs I have of Fazioli pianos make them sound 
>rather "cold" somehow, in my opinion. I've played a few of them, and 
>found them very beautiful, with a fantastically even sound across 
>the compass and beautifully regulated.  But somehow I haven't warmed 
>to them in recordings.

I have recently been listening to Angela Hewitt, who plays Fazioli. 
The Hyperion site 
<http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/artist_page.asp?name=hewitt> gives 
very generous downloads of samples of her playing, and I must say I 
find the piano in these exceptional.  Try these for example:

<http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/MP3Audio/67306-10.m3u>
<http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/MP3Audio/67342-13.m3u>

I like particularly the clarity and balance of the bass and low tenor 
both in staccato and sustained notes, which I consider most 
important.  The Fazioli lacks the soupy quality of the Steinway in 
this area.  As to the Bšsendorfer bass the less I say the better.  I 
may be wrong but I guess this is a B.:

<http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/MP3Audio/67472-06.m3u>

and I think it's B awful!

JD

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