I've loved pianos my entire life (well almost! - since I was 2 or 3, anyway!) Mine's a much more humble Kawai - I've never been able to afford anything in this league - so hearing all three, in the same film clip - and hearing these opinions on each of them - means a whole heap to me. While I was at the Conservatorium (half a century ago!) my teacher had two pianos - one was a Steinway (they seem to turn up all over the place!) and I can no longer remember the maker of the other one. But it was lovingly restored for my teacher, after he found it and bought it. And every now and then, he would let his students play on his "special" piano. Which was awesome! - the action was really incredible, you could just about play the soft notes by merely breathing on the keys, and the more pressure, the louder the sound became - with no distortion. Like all the other students, I loved when I was lucky enough to be invited to use it - and the lure of gold was irresistible, it was the best possible inducement to work hard, practising my piano concertos, so that I had this piano for the solo part while he took the accompaniment on the Steinway! Way back at the beginning, I started on a Blüthner, and I was fascinated by the mention of them in the clip. Like most other kids' "startup", that one was simply an upright - a cast off from the Conservatorium - excellent to learn on, great action and tone, but regrettably, the action of an upright is no competition with the action of a grand - too many things happening, too slow to "restore" everything, and I found as I progressed that it was hard to avoid overriding the speed of the action. A grand becomes the inevitable solution, in the end.
I enjoyed hearing the history of pianos in your life. It is very clear that music has moved you your entire life and still does to this day. Thank you for being a part of my channel for it is those just like you who make my channel interesting to me. Thank you, JPS
You're so blessed to have been given the gift of taking lessons...I was intrigued and fascinated by the piano when I first saw one...I was 4 years old and I sat on the bench and then I made up the most beautiful music I have ever heard...of course I had no idea what I was playing. But to me it was "music to my ears"...the begging and non stop pleading for a piano only began to fade away...my folks were very cruel and told me that I was too stupid to learn how to play piano...I finally gave up...then my dearest life long friend. Lolita died suddenly and unexpectedly...allergic reaction to latex days before Christmas. ..I sunk into a deep depression that I didn't want to climb out of...until Valentine's Day...3 men standing at my front door with a huge heavy item on a big roller dolly..covered with blankets ...was getting ready to snow so I couldn't leave them out in the rain and then my husband told them to come in and set it up in the living room....wow...what my dear husband of 45 years knew that it was time for me to begin my journey with learning how to play piano...3 months later I played Prelude in C major as a "thank offering/gift" at our church...300 people who have known me 35 yrs we've been attending had no idea that I could play piano...I was very nervous but my hours and hours of practicing 4 to 5 hours per day enabled me to play without any mishaps...my parents were very wrong...what do you think?
I was born to a poor family who didn't own a piano but I somehow developed a love for the sound of piano music. In the early 1950's, when I was ten years old, my older sister somehow wound up with an upright piano. It was in her room and I was not allowed in there. But like any self-respecting ten year old boy I snuck in when no one was home and over the next four or five years I'd taught myself to play - by ear of course. She never did pick it up and never played it, so there was never any fake books or sheet music in the house. As a teenager, girls were suddenly interesting, and there were sports - and one day on a clandestine mission to the room I discovered the piano was gone. For the next twenty years, still poor, I never saw or touched a piano again. Too busy trying to put food in my mouth and keep some kind of a roof over my head. In my travels - usually looking for work, I would encounter a piano in a hotel lobby, or a school where I was working temporarily as a janitor. I would play, any and every chance I got. Or in a house I was cleaning. i had learned to read music. I became acquainted with Mozart and Franz Liszt - and the music filled a certain ache in an otherwise empty life. In my thirties, I played a Steinway concert D at Steinway hall on 57th street in New York. It was magical. The piano actually helped me play - as if it knew I had never played so fine a piano before. In Sydney Australia once, I got to play an old Baldwin S10 with its sweet sentimental sensuality in the action. Played a proud old Bluthner in Berlin in the sixties. Now that I'm pushing 80 my vagabond days are over and I survive on Veteran's benefits. But I'll never have the opportunity to play a fine piano again. I hope you know you are blessed by God to be able to play these masterpieces - and I can see by the smile on your face when you get up from that Fazioli that you play with your heart, not your hands. Thank you for the sharing the joy with me.
I had similar situation. Couldn't think about own grand nor upright , anyway already for my own children I couldn't stop myself and purchased very old used upright and smallest possible also used Casio keyboard. . And this way it started for me too. In my dreams was grand piano but in meaning time shifted to practicing on better light weight keyboards. Even with years I could at last afford "any" grand I had no chance to find a place it in my home so I got Technics PR170 hammer action electronic piano which was at least comparable to classic instruments .. Later no more in range of my hands . Having now small apartment I purchased MIDI CME 88 keys and GEM Sound module I started to build my own electronic piano . All this works surprising fine and saves the space while it coast some 1500USD plus own make. I think today electronic pianos, even those not crafted but factory made may sound satisfactory.
That's silly, What the HELL are you waiting for?? It ain't over til it's over. You ain't dead yet! Hell, you might live another 20 years! This is why God gives us credit. Send it over, send me a bill. Geez, you can get a FREE one if you get movers. Maybe 500 for a spinet and pro PIANO movers, NOT your idiot neighbors. Lol. Those public pianos are THE WORST. Never in tune. That's if you're lucky.
Bosendorfer has yet to be topped for me. The richness of the almost dark and imposing tone of the lower-mid to bass register balanced with the lighter, icy cold treble... Nothing compares.
Now after 17 minutes of the video I can tell that: Steinway is a shy timid girl, loving sad ballads. Fazioli is a young guy, full of energy, always happy and willing to help anyone. Bosendorfer is a wise old man, who is always ready to give an advice for life. All three are great, have their own virtues and flaws and you absolutely cannot tell which one is better - it mainly depends what music you like and want to play
I fell in love with a HUGE upright grand Bosendorfer. Guy was going to sell it for 3,000! No joke! And even tho it's worth an insane amount over that, I STILL wouldn't sell it! He reniged. A great regret of my life.
I have a Bösendorfer. It's a beauty and a beast and I wouldn't trade it for any other piano. It made me a better player because I couldn't wait to practice. This is a great video. Thank you!
Fazioli for me, hands down. I just love the bright sound and then the depth of the bass. Bosendorfer is wonderful as always and very classic. The Steinway was just so so for me. Thank you so much. That was really fun!
Wow, this is cool! Thanks for posting this. I tuned the Fazioli and Bosendorfer not long before this video was made and had no idea at the time that it would be posted. The Steinway was waiting for some work to be done on the player unit so I didn't get the chance to tune that one. They are all amazing instruments whichever one you prefer.
So the question is to you then: would the Steinway be less ‘timid’ had you tuned it? And the damper issue the pianist mentioned: are the post-damper reverberations on the Steinway something that can be adjusted, or is it a trait? Thank you for your part in all this.
Dave Stahl, the Steinway was perfectly in tune when we arrived and was very well regulated. We were told it had just been tuned a couple of days before and I thought they had been all tuned by the same person. You reminded me however that one of Steinway's top techs had come in from Southern California and stayed for two days tuning, regulating and setting up the player mechanism. The player mechanism seemed to be having a lot of problems and the Steinway also had some pretty severe overtones on the bass side. Also, the Steinway also had some severe fit and finish issues.
The damper issues on the Steinway are undoubtedly fixable if they haven't been already. I haven't worked on a Spirio damper system before, but some other player systems can interfere with pedal function to varying degrees.
I heard somewhere the rim of the Bosendorfer piano was made of soundboard spruce so the entire piano resonates not just the soundboard, which might also be true of the Fazioli. I think this is why they sound so powerful. I have a 5'7 steinway in my home and it is powerful enough for me. All three are amazing and each person should have the one he or she likes or loves best... for this reason I really appreciate these videos. I normally don't care for a lot of talking but this young man is both knowledgeable and interesting.
Typically I find Bosendorfers to ultimately be a bit less powerful than other brands, but they are often stronger in other areas. They definitely have a beautifully unique sound and I adore them.
What an amazing opportunity to play these 3 pianos! I will always remember the only day I played a Fazioli. I have played many Steinway and some old Bosendorfer, but only with the Fazioli I felt I could do whatever I wanted, and the sound was the most beautiful I had ever heard. Of course I think it's only my personal experience, all of them are really good. I've enjoyed this video very much 👏👏
Bosendorfer sounds amazing - a no-nonsense adult. The Fazioli was bright and fun. The Steinway is beautifully balanced and somber. I think I prefer the Fazioli
Holy moly, imagine waking up every morning knowing you have 3 stunning concert grands in the comfort of your own home! Thank you for the comparison video. My personal favourite is the Bosendorfer Imperial.
I liked the clarity of the Fuz, but it’s voicing in the upper range in the Debussy piece was a little tinny. The Bose was overall the best for me with mellow upper range in Debussy but equally clear/distinct voicing across the range. The Steinway somehow seemed to have indistinct voicing that was nice and rich, but lacked clarity, as if there was an “overlap” from one note to another. Thanks for the wonderful demo, and the the kind owner for allowing this demonstration. A rare comparison indeed!
Bosendorfer has the best sound, warm and rich. Fazioli has a big sound and a lot of clarity, it speaks very well. The new Steinway was a bit of a letdown. It sounds muted. It also needed tuning, and I think it needs to be played in and then adjusted by a technician to get it to perform better.
I listened several times and agree. I liked the bosendorfer the best. the Fazioli seemed brightest and clear. There was something off in the steinway with how it seems muted
The tuner actually commented on this video and said he just got done working on the other two and hadn't had a chance to work on the Steinway yet. So perhaps it was at a disadvantage! I still thought it sounded wonderful though.
I recently became aware of Fazioli pianos, so I was very intrigued to watch your comparison of these three pianos. Thanks, James, for this enjoyable and informative comparison!!!
Very interesting comparison. I've never got a chance to hear that before. The audio is very good too and easy to hear the differences you were pointing out!
Thank you for allowing James to play and comment on your 3 pianos. It was most interested. I've always enjoyed the listening and watching James demonstrate different instruments.
Of the pianos played, it strikes me Fazioli is the warmest, Bösendorfer has a unique squareness to the sound, Steinway is the richest. They're all great, but each to their own.
So subjective... "Muddy" is what one says of the Steinway if one prefers a bright sound. Only the Steinway had what I heard as a warm upper register. But I don't like "presence' (hotter treble) so much. Trade-off with the extra resonance of the larger pianos: to me they sounded murky and lacking clarity in the Debussy's mid-range, while the Steinway retained better definition. The bass of the Steinway was simply weaker for sure, and the damper action just not good.
What I love with the Bösen (both as tuner and musician) is that is has a both a very round sound (oddly both discinct and rich) and it is very even in timbre and volume between all regesters. I’ve always loved the Fazioli, but never had the oportunity to tune one. I’ve tuned more Stieinways than I can count... very clear discanto rich timbre - in many ways similar to the Blütner - (the Yamaha is based on a Steinway but I hate it as a tuner because how they build it, making it very hard to tune), but I always find the Bösen the smothest sound. The Steinway, Blütner and Yamaha fit well for more sticking out in jazz or a piano concerto, as the Bösen is better for solo piano works or something that blends into an orchestra. And I agree with you about the bas of the Bösen. The reason ”loud” ”sounds better” on the Steinway and tha Fazi is because of their brilliant and strong overtones which give them a more brilliance and thus cuts through more. For me, it is like a violin and and alto violin... the alto doesn’t stick out as much, but is more rounder and richer.
I have become aware that dealers and rebuilders are advertising on my channel before and during the videos. I do not support any company unless I chose to do videos at their location.
I have not seen any since I pinned that comment, but there was one really shady Steinway reseller from Texas, and also one large rebuilder that I know little about. I do not want people to think that I endorse these businesses. If I like a company I would gladly go to their place of business to review their hard work.
Each one of them has their only personality... But the Bosendorfer is powerful and at the same time, peaceful... and you can literally feel its strong when you call for it. But i am a Steinway kinda guy, so... :) Thanks for this amazing video!
I had the pleasure of hearing Paolo Fazioli in discussion with a group of Renner technicians in 1994 where he discussed the modifications he had made to their action and why. This happened at Music Messe in Frankfurt. I was working the show and would go to the Fazioli stand each morning to play his incredible pianos before the public arrived. One morning I was playing, Paolo tapped me on the shoulder, asked me to stop playing and then I got to be the fly on the wall as I listened to a mind blowing discussion in which the Renner engineers would listen, comment, sometimes disagree and then Paolo would blow their minds with the proof which was in the sound but also a brilliant differentiator in what he did as a performance action nuance. Renner insisted that a pianist would want the hammer to get to the string with as little resistance as possible. Fazioli said that he had modified the action to give the player more control as the hammer was headed to the string, almost like the ability to hold it up slightly. It was fascinating to hear this entire discussion and after the Renner techs left I checked the action and could actually feel what he was talking about. He gave me a knowing look and a nod. I can't wait until the day I own one of his pianos.
I grew up playing Steinways. Now I own a Mason Hamlin model A, and it serves my needs for the size of my home. Recently I hosted an event and brought in concert artist Jan Lisiecki to perform. In the contract, I had to supply a concert grand. Doing my part I decided to rent a Fazioli over a Steinway. I made the right decision. My Lisiecki plays world-wide and when he sat down at the Fazioli and started to play, my guest told me this was a life-moving experience. The sound was superb. Thank you for this video. I found it very enjoyable to watch, and will start to follow you more.
They all sound SO beautiful! The Steinway has a gorgeous blend and mellow honey tone with rich bass. The Fazioli seemed to have more clearly defined individual notes, and bigger differences in the character of each register, with an awesome voice-like low range and creamy mid-range. The Bosendorfer was beautiful but I felt its tone was a little more hollow.
Great video again! I’m envious of you! If I entered that room, I don’t think I’d leave! All the pianos have their own character and is unfair to compare but they all sound great, even out of my iPhone speaker!
I would love to play any of those gorgeous pianos....they are all the best of the best and have the price tag to go with it!! That Bosendorfer Imperial Grand is an unbelievable instrument and my favorite of the three....those bell tones in the upper register ring out at the slightest touch and the bass has such a gorgeous resonance!! For $200,000, it should be the best! For me the Fazioli is a close runner up and especially lush on the bass end! Interesting you favored the Fazioli. The one thing missing for me as a listener is of course to actually sit down to experience the action under my own fingertips and the fact that the Bosendoerfer is from 1993 could certainly make a big difference for you in your assessment. The only piano I have played of the 3 you sampled is the Steinway and it was a dream really...very responsive under my fingertips, but it's been quite a long time. The days of my old recitals when I played a grand piano are long over and now I play digital only (in my case a Roland RD-700). It's not the same as an acoustic piano at all, but it works for me and fits my life. You are so fortunate to have had this chance to compare these phenomenal instruments. I have subscribed. Pleased to meet you. Take good care, ~Jackie
Fazioli is emerging as the best piano producer in the world. I sell pianos in ny, over the last 2 years I see Fazioli demand exploding, while Steinway dropping. The thing is that Fazioli are extremely rare due to their small production. A top school wanted to replace all their old steinway and baldwin with Fazioli, but Fazioli factory could simply not sustain the production.
Steinway has really fallen from grace lately. I mean the dogmatic view a lot of the employees and company big wigs so to speak have really brought that company down. I mean they are a good pianos, but it they have problems. For 1 they do not seem to be willing to abandon the soundboard crown creation method which has been replaced with much better methods. They still say that their action is the best out there despite Wessel Nickel and Gross closely followed by Renner being miles ahead. The back action is still in the stone age so to speak with massive problems that have been pointed out to them time after time for literally decades with the position of Steinway being that to change a Steinway action would be to make it somehow worse. That mentality has mean that all of the other piano manufacturers have gone from copying them to improving upon their design and surpassing them. Yamaha, Mason and Hamlin, Fazioli, kawaii, bechstein, and others have evolved massively over the years while Steinway has refused to adapt and therefore has been left behind. You pair that with the letter they sent out to all of the piano technicians and many piano stores threatening a lawsuit for rebuilding their pianos with non-Steinway parts did not land well either. My mentor responded to that by saying he would never allow a piano to leave his shop in such a low condition. Insinuating that Steinway's pianos were blatantly inferior to what he produced after a rebuild. And he was right. the Steinway soundboard, action, stringing, scale all were far below the standard of that shop. Even the pinblock was not up to standard when compared to their custom pinblock design.
Woww I can't believe those 3 pianos are together in the same rom! It's insane! Very good comparison James, as for my personal taste I stick with the Bosendorfer, but it would be difficult to chose between the Steinway and the Fazioli.
I loved this review. As you were playing the different instruments with your full range of songs I could very clearly hear the differences between the tonal quality and richness of the tones and under and overtones. Of course the quality of the compressed file from RUclips doesn't do full justice to any of the pianos, but listening with good quality headphones really highlighted the differences. I was happy that your opinions of the sound quality of each instrument pretty much matched my own. It means that 40 years of working on mostly jet aircraft and having to deal with tinnitus 24/7 has not diminished my ability to hear the subtle nuances in music and has not affected my enjoyment of it.
Outstanding review for pianists or those who just appreciate and love the piano. My former teacher, Mrs Simpson, would have adored this programme .......and those gentle raps across my knuckles when I dropped my hands down proved ever so useful...... James Hennighan Yorkshire, England
I listened on two different occasions about four days apart. I intentionally did the first listen with really (atrociously) bad laptop speakers; nowhere near RUclips Quality (sic) Sound. The second time I listened with really good electronics and headphones; way better than the RUclips source. The first time I had figured out you would probably choose the Fazioli because of the way you lit up while playing it; it does have monstrous bass and a great, modern action. I chose the Bösendorfer as my favorite; I love the bright voicing. Oddly, I made the same choices the second time after a lot of critical listening. What I didn't hear on the first listen is the way complex chords on the Fazioli seemed to sound busy and congested with overtones and sympathetic vibration, where the Bösendorfer remained clean and clear on the same piece. The Steinway is a drop-dead gorgeous work of art. It does everything well, but it was easy to tell that the action and big sound of the Fazioli won your heart on that day... playing those pieces... BTW, I don't play, all pianos feel the same to me, so it took your explanation of the different piano actions before I figured out why you liked the Fazioli so much. I spent a lot of the second listen watching your face and body language, and now it all makes sense.
Man I’d love to put my hands on all these grands!! I’ve played the 9 foot Steinway at performance halls & on the road, and there’s nothing more exciting than sitting at a 9 foot grand piano!!! (Love your playing at 12:11, & at 19:01 !!!). Only grand I traveled with was a Yamaha. I completely agree with your critique about the low ends, touch, pedals, resonance, etc. Besides the sound, My two biggest peeves are: (1) feeling any mechanical movement pounding back up on my fingertips after I’ve pressed a key down, and then (2) any mechanical slop or ringing after a keys released. That greatly reduces your speed playing. My 71 fender Rhodes had the absolute WORST key release ringing, until I fixed it with some felt for the hammers to fall back on. (I should’ve told Fender about that mod. That was the Cheapest most significant mechanical modification I’ve ever made to a piano) (3) how smoothly rounded the edge of the keys are, which spares your thumb when performing thumb slides up & down the full keyboard. (4) how solid the low end is! **I must have a strong low A!** I own an inexpensive Casio Privia PX-350 that I tote around for practice, which has an incredibly strong low A!! I have one composition that HAS to have a strong low A fundamental!
I feel so privileged each time I am allowed to play such wonderful instruments, never mind three in the same room. I can not honestly believe that someone would allow me play instruments of that calibra. I feel like I am the luckiest guy in the world.
What is great about the Fazioli is how incredibly well the bass middle register blends. It just feels incredibly in tune. The Bösendorfer feel a bit like either the bass in not exactly in tune, or maybe the intonation is off. But the low note somehow seem off. But what’s really outstanding on the Bösendorfer is everything from Alto register upwards. It just has such a magic sparkle to it! Just listen to the beginning of the first piece! Both the Steinway and the Fazioli seem bland and muted compared to the Bösendorfer, which just sings!
The deep low growling bases of the Bösendorfer and bright roundness of her trebles is a signature of that timeless maker. Also, the projection in a larger room would be filled to overflowing.
Ditto, the Faz. I owned a perfectly restored Steinway Model M, made in 1929, bought it from an “artists’ pianos” company in L.A. Boy, I loved that Steinway. I moved many times and the piano even fell down a flight of stairs, pinning the mover to the wall. Served him right! I was shocked to hear the upper treble range notes of the Steinway in this vid as like an ice pick in my ears. The plodding Bosendorfer would also be my 3rd choice. I bet I was the only 10 y/o child who begged for a piano, but also happily practiced every day. James, you’re awesome and we look forward to your musical future.
Thank you. The Steinway sounds very dry, very precise. No coloration, great balance. The piano doesn't add or take away anything from your performance or the composition. The Fazioli sounds like somebody really cares that no register be less than perfect in every way. Really great treble and a bass which doesn't sound forced. I could imagine this being an instrument for perfectionists who understand what the composer intended. The Bösendorfer is absolutely another instrument, entirely. I don't like it better than the other two, but there is no question in my mind that it was built by people who got where Beethoven went, regardless of what the technology of his time could offer. If I had to choose one, it would be the Fazioli for Debussy, Ravel, Mozart, Bach. For Beethoven (my favorite), it would be the Bösendorfer. The Steinway would be a great piano for a master such as Glenn Gould. He could awaken its cold soul.
There is another comparable piano that may be worth a trial, the Feurich, a handmade German piano. I played a Feurich concert grand in the 1980s, and a Bach chorale was absolutely transparent played in the bottom two octaves! The sustain power was amazing! It sounded like real voices singing.
Thanks so much for sharing this experience/opportunity! I admit the differences were hardly there for me - at first. But with each new piece you played, the differences became more audible. You summed them up really well.
All sound amazing. I picture the Steinway in a home or small auditorium. The Fazioli sounds like it was made to fill a large cathedral. Overall the Bosendorfer sounds the most balanced to me.
Bosendorfer reminds me of Christmas Carols in a Mountain Lodge and Coltrane's piano player, though I can hear Alturo Sandoval on a Fazioli in a heartbeat....
You were spot on to what I observed. I couldn't feel the play of keys but I watched your fingers move and that difference chunky verses smooth was noticeable. Thank you this review. I love the piano but it was not an instrument I could play, eye to brain to fingers just didn't work in my brain. You were a dream to listen to. My version of heaven♡
I’ve had the privilege of playing both the Bosenforfer as well as the Fazioli. In my opinion, the Bosendorfer just has that unapologetically magical sound when played live. You can definitely tell the craftsmanship in its tone. The Fazioli has such a beautifully bright and crisp tone to it, but (in my opinion) is missing that smooth structured sound that comes from the pianos action. Each piano crafted beautifully, however, I still prefer a Bosendorfer.
Bosendorfer hands down.! Just a great sounding piano. More body and crispness. just a nice balance all around. unbelievable Sustain and tone. It is Amazing.
Beautiful sound and, even more touching to me, there are so many beautiful comments. Thanks for having this interesting video. It has soothed many beautiful souls here.
I came here fully expecting to prefer the Bosendorfer, but the Fazioli blew me away. From the first few notes, it seemed so much more present and alive.
Oh to be surrounded by a half million dollars worth of keys! I know I would have felt like I'd died and gone to heaven. Your playing certainly does justice to these magnificent instruments. They all sound different and each is perfectly beautiful in it's own right. My own "died and gone to heaven" moment happened when I was taking my last piano exam in a concert hall and being judged by two incredible edudicators ... the instrument was a Bechstein and till then I had not touched a more perfect instrument ... I had to remind myself several times that this was an exam that I was doing and to get over the fact that I was conversing with perfection.
OK. Here's my take: All 3 pianos sound fantastic. The Steinway and the Fazioli are at two ends of the yardstick, with the Bosendorfer in the middle, according to my ears. It all depends on what kind of sound you prefer. All 3 are excellent pianos. I prefer the Steinway, as you could probably push it harder without it breaking up. It also depends on how hard or soft you play each piano. I think the Steinway is more capable of handling whatever you bring to it. Thanks for the comparison. I make classical guitars for a living. The same holds true. Different makers produce different sounding guitars. They are all different from each other, but they all have merit. You can't own just one! You might have different classical guitars for different kinds of music, or the sound of your fingernails will be different from one guitar to the next. It's a matter of finding which guitars, or piano, that fits with you and that suits your taste. That said, very few musicians can afford the best pianos and the best classical guitars. In the end, a quality instrument IS a quality instrument. One is not better than the other, only different, as long as they are on the highest level of construction. Instruments are like people. I have several quality friends, and I love them all, and they are totally different from each other. Your playing is lovely, BTW.
Thank you for your selection of music with explanation. The Fazioni,had a most wonderful sound and was on power with the Bosendofer.i loved them both.ofcourse the Fazioni has the length and therefore volume.was glad of your explanation of the lighter touch of the steinway.however the steinway comes 3 rd in my view.thank you once again for your demonstration of several pieces.look forward to your next demonstration.thank you so much. Romaine
For this particular three pianos in this video, I would first choose Bösendorfer, second Fazioli and third Steiway & Sons. Based on the clearly projected sounds. Pedalling issue whether is accounted or not, we could listen to the interesting varieties of tones.
I agree with most of the others: The Bosendorfer clearly wins. A few years ago we had the choice between a Steinway C (227 cm) and a Bösendorfer 225 - and here also the Bosendorfer was by far the better choice for 2/3 of the price. Sadly we had to sell the Bosendorfer, and today we own a Bluethner - and again when in the process of choosing, the Bluethner was for our ears the better choice over any Steinway we tested this time.
Not sure why Fazioli for Classical and Steinway for jazz. Steinway is pretty much the standard for Classical and many, many jazz players perform and have recorded on Steinways. Fazioli is getting quite popular with jazz musicians as well. Its clear tone and its quick dampers work very well for jazz. And it's great for hearing the tones in complex jazz voicings. All three can play both Classical and jazz.
Ever play a Mason Hamiln? I got my paws on a 1927 version being redone at Clark Music in syracuse, and thought i was at the controls of a B 52 in fighter jet copnfiguration (hard to imagine?..trust me).
I've loved pianos my entire life (well almost! - since I was 2 or 3, anyway!) Mine's a much more humble Kawai - I've never been able to afford anything in this league - so hearing all three, in the same film clip - and hearing these opinions on each of them - means a whole heap to me.
While I was at the Conservatorium (half a century ago!) my teacher had two pianos - one was a Steinway (they seem to turn up all over the place!) and I can no longer remember the maker of the other one. But it was lovingly restored for my teacher, after he found it and bought it. And every now and then, he would let his students play on his "special" piano. Which was awesome! - the action was really incredible, you could just about play the soft notes by merely breathing on the keys, and the more pressure, the louder the sound became - with no distortion. Like all the other students, I loved when I was lucky enough to be invited to use it - and the lure of gold was irresistible, it was the best possible inducement to work hard, practising my piano concertos, so that I had this piano for the solo part while he took the accompaniment on the Steinway!
Way back at the beginning, I started on a Blüthner, and I was fascinated by the mention of them in the clip. Like most other kids' "startup", that one was simply an upright - a cast off from the Conservatorium - excellent to learn on, great action and tone, but regrettably, the action of an upright is no competition with the action of a grand - too many things happening, too slow to "restore" everything, and I found as I progressed that it was hard to avoid overriding the speed of the action. A grand becomes the inevitable solution, in the end.
I enjoyed hearing the history of pianos in your life. It is very clear that music has moved you your entire life and still does to this day. Thank you for being a part of my channel for it is those just like you who make my channel interesting to me. Thank you, JPS
You're so blessed to have been given the gift of taking lessons...I was intrigued and fascinated by the piano when I first saw one...I was 4 years old and I sat on the bench and then I made up the most beautiful music I have ever heard...of course I had no idea what I was playing. But to me it was "music to my ears"...the begging and non stop pleading for a piano only began to fade away...my folks were very cruel and told me that I was too stupid to learn how to play piano...I finally gave up...then my dearest life long friend. Lolita died suddenly and unexpectedly...allergic reaction to latex days before Christmas. ..I sunk into a deep depression that I didn't want to climb out of...until Valentine's Day...3 men standing at my front door with a huge heavy item on a big roller dolly..covered with blankets ...was getting ready to snow so I couldn't leave them out in the rain and then my husband told them to come in and set it up in the living room....wow...what my dear husband of 45 years knew that it was time for me to begin my journey with learning how to play piano...3 months later I played Prelude in C major as a "thank offering/gift" at our church...300 people who have known me 35 yrs we've been attending had no idea that I could play piano...I was very nervous but my hours and hours of practicing 4 to 5 hours per day enabled me to play without any mishaps...my parents were very wrong...what do you think?
I love Kawai too -
Marny McDonald 7(
does anyone know the song he is playing?
The Steinway's tone was super well balanced. The Fazioli's bass was astounding. The Bosendorfer had a rich warm tone. All of them are amazing
I was born to a poor family who didn't own a piano but I somehow developed a love for the sound of piano music. In the early 1950's, when I was ten years old, my older sister somehow wound up with an upright piano. It was in her room and I was not allowed in there. But like any self-respecting ten year old boy I snuck in when no one was home and over the next four or five years I'd taught myself to play - by ear of course.
She never did pick it up and never played it, so there was never any fake books or sheet music in the house. As a teenager, girls were suddenly interesting, and there were sports - and one day on a clandestine mission to the room I discovered the piano was gone. For the next twenty years, still poor, I never saw or touched a piano again. Too busy trying to put food in my mouth and keep some kind of a roof over my head.
In my travels - usually looking for work, I would encounter a piano in a hotel lobby, or a school where I was working temporarily as a janitor. I would play, any and every chance I got. Or in a house I was cleaning. i had learned to read music. I became acquainted with Mozart and Franz Liszt - and the music filled a certain ache in an otherwise empty life. In my thirties, I played a Steinway concert D at Steinway hall on 57th street in New York. It was magical. The piano actually helped me play - as if it knew I had never played so fine a piano before.
In Sydney Australia once, I got to play an old Baldwin S10 with its sweet sentimental sensuality in the action. Played a proud old Bluthner in Berlin in the sixties. Now that I'm pushing 80 my vagabond days are over and I survive on Veteran's benefits. But I'll never have the opportunity to play a fine piano again. I hope you know you are blessed by God to be able to play these masterpieces - and I can see by the smile on your face when you get up from that Fazioli that you play with your heart, not your hands. Thank you for the sharing the joy with me.
I had similar situation. Couldn't think about own grand nor upright , anyway already for my own children I couldn't stop myself and purchased very old used upright and smallest possible also used Casio keyboard. . And this way it started for me too. In my dreams was grand piano but in meaning time shifted to practicing on better light weight keyboards. Even with years I could at last afford "any" grand I had no chance to find a place it in my home so I got Technics PR170 hammer action electronic piano which was at least comparable to classic instruments .. Later no more in range of my hands . Having now small apartment I purchased MIDI CME 88 keys and GEM Sound module I started to build my own electronic piano . All this works surprising fine and saves the space while it coast some 1500USD plus own make. I think today electronic pianos, even those not crafted but factory made may sound satisfactory.
Beautiful comment, God bless.
Stephen Ryder Thanks for sharing your story 💕! May God bless you!
Beautiful story Stephen. 🙏🏽
That's silly, What the HELL are you waiting for?? It ain't over til it's over. You ain't dead yet! Hell, you might live another 20 years!
This is why God gives us credit. Send it over, send me a bill.
Geez, you can get a FREE one if you get movers. Maybe 500 for a spinet and pro PIANO movers, NOT your idiot neighbors. Lol.
Those public pianos are THE WORST. Never in tune. That's if you're lucky.
I CHOOSE THE FAZSTEINDORFER !!!
My sentiments exactly! :)
Never heard of that pokemon....
@@MicroageHD AAAA WHoooo's that PPPOOOKKeMON????
sounds like german
"Ill take a Fatsenburger with some fries and a shake please !!!" "Ohh, hold the onions !!!"
I loved the transparency and clarity of the Fazioli for each thing he played
Bosendorfer has yet to be topped for me. The richness of the almost dark and imposing tone of the lower-mid to bass register balanced with the lighter, icy cold treble... Nothing compares.
Now after 17 minutes of the video I can tell that:
Steinway is a shy timid girl, loving sad ballads.
Fazioli is a young guy, full of energy, always happy and willing to help anyone.
Bosendorfer is a wise old man, who is always ready to give an advice for life.
All three are great, have their own virtues and flaws and you absolutely cannot tell which one is better - it mainly depends what music you like and want to play
Beautifully said. We're a work in progress. love all 3, but Bosendorfer sure makes us sound like a concert pianist and wish I was!!
I fell in love with a HUGE upright grand Bosendorfer. Guy was going to sell it for 3,000! No joke! And even tho it's worth an insane amount over that, I STILL wouldn't sell it! He reniged. A great regret of my life.
Fazioli would be as fast as an Italian driver
I have a Bösendorfer. It's a beauty and a beast and I wouldn't trade it for any other piano. It made me a better player because I couldn't wait to practice. This is a great video. Thank you!
Bösendorfer uber alles, Fazioli excellent, I don't like too much Steinway's sound... in my opinion ;-)
I'm jealous !!!
The Bosendorfer, by a long, long, way. Beautiful, rich, deep, and showing its quality. Yes all three have merit.. but my musical ear says Bosendorfer.
If you long press the letter O you can get this character: ö
Definitely the Bose
Me too, to my ears the Bösendorfer sounds best. Steinway 2nd, Fazioli 3rd, because it sounds too "bright" for my taste.
@@johndavolta3124 On a Mac: Option-U, then the O: ö
I love the sound of bosendofer too.
All 3 piano's sound just beautiful... But if you notice - this man has a really big smile after he plays the Fazioli.
Holy cow. He's the Doug DeMuro of pianos.
I'll say!!!!
this is a 15-thousand-dollar piano, yes! you spent 15 thousand for a piano! today I'm going to explain why！
Peter Pista you left a zero off for these pianos
He needs to show us some more quirks and features of each piano.
Hey where are the quirks and features?
♥️Fazioli takes you to the realm of imagination.♥️
Fazioli for me, hands down. I just love the bright sound and then the depth of the bass. Bosendorfer is wonderful as always and very classic. The Steinway was just so so for me. Thank you so much. That was really fun!
Wow, this is cool! Thanks for posting this. I tuned the Fazioli and Bosendorfer not long before this video was made and had no idea at the time that it would be posted. The Steinway was waiting for some work to be done on the player unit so I didn't get the chance to tune that one. They are all amazing instruments whichever one you prefer.
So the question is to you then: would the Steinway be less ‘timid’ had you tuned it? And the damper issue the pianist mentioned: are the post-damper reverberations on the Steinway something that can be adjusted, or is it a trait?
Thank you for your part in all this.
Dave Stahl, the Steinway was perfectly in tune when we arrived and was very well regulated. We were told it had just been tuned a couple of days before and I thought they had been all tuned by the same person. You reminded me however that one of Steinway's top techs had come in from Southern California and stayed for two days tuning, regulating and setting up the player mechanism. The player mechanism seemed to be having a lot of problems and the Steinway also had some pretty severe overtones on the bass side. Also, the Steinway also had some severe fit and finish issues.
The damper issues on the Steinway are undoubtedly fixable if they haven't been already. I haven't worked on a Spirio damper system before, but some other player systems can interfere with pedal function to varying degrees.
I heard somewhere the rim of the Bosendorfer piano was made of soundboard spruce so the entire piano resonates not just the soundboard, which might also be true of the Fazioli. I think this is why they sound so powerful. I have a 5'7 steinway in my home and it is powerful enough for me. All three are amazing and each person should have the one he or she likes or loves best... for this reason I really appreciate these videos. I normally don't care for a lot of talking but this young man is both knowledgeable and interesting.
Typically I find Bosendorfers to ultimately be a bit less powerful than other brands, but they are often stronger in other areas. They definitely have a beautifully unique sound and I adore them.
What an amazing opportunity to play these 3 pianos! I will always remember the only day I played a Fazioli. I have played many Steinway and some old Bosendorfer, but only with the Fazioli I felt I could do whatever I wanted, and the sound was the most beautiful I had ever heard. Of course I think it's only my personal experience, all of them are really good.
I've enjoyed this video very much 👏👏
The Fazioli blew me away with the rich full sound on the Debussy! Wow!
Bosendorfer sounds amazing - a no-nonsense adult. The Fazioli was bright and fun. The Steinway is beautifully balanced and somber. I think I prefer the Fazioli
Fazioli gives the most clear interpretation of Debussy... I grew up with a Steinway and a Bosendorfer at my grandmother's... I would have the 3.
Holy moly, imagine waking up every morning knowing you have 3 stunning concert grands in the comfort of your own home! Thank you for the comparison video. My personal favourite is the Bosendorfer Imperial.
Isn't the Bose amazing?
You mean Bösendorfer 😏
I liked the clarity of the Fuz, but it’s voicing in the upper range in the Debussy piece was a little tinny. The Bose was overall the best for me with mellow upper range in Debussy but equally clear/distinct voicing across the range. The Steinway somehow seemed to have indistinct voicing that was nice and rich, but lacked clarity, as if there was an “overlap” from one note to another.
Thanks for the wonderful demo, and the the kind owner for allowing this demonstration. A rare comparison indeed!
Such an amazing treat to compare these three fantastic pianos in a private home. Thanks to the host for sharing these treasures with us.
The King of the comparison video's! Nice job and ,great Owner!
Bosendorfer by far, personnal taste of course
AGREE!
That Fazioli is pretty special though. Still thing I like the Bosendorfer the best.
more weight, more warmth, more character
All the way.
well its austrian, of course its the best!
Bosendorfer has the best sound, warm and rich. Fazioli has a big sound and a lot of clarity, it speaks very well. The new Steinway was a bit of a letdown. It sounds muted. It also needed tuning, and I think it needs to be played in and then adjusted by a technician to get it to perform better.
I listened several times and agree. I liked the bosendorfer the best. the Fazioli seemed brightest and clear. There was something off in the steinway with how it seems muted
I have always dreamed of owning a Fazioli, however I agree with you the Bosendorfer sounded better to me.
i agree fully except i like that sound lol
that's because you haven't heard their esortic wood collection.
The tuner actually commented on this video and said he just got done working on the other two and hadn't had a chance to work on the Steinway yet. So perhaps it was at a disadvantage! I still thought it sounded wonderful though.
I recently became aware of Fazioli pianos, so I was very intrigued to watch your comparison of these three pianos. Thanks, James, for this enjoyable and informative comparison!!!
My pleasure!
That Bösendorfer sounds amazing! The other two are also "fine" :P
Very interesting comparison. I've never got a chance to hear that before.
The audio is very good too and easy to hear the differences you were pointing out!
Gorgeous sounding pianos. Love the clarity of the Fazioli in the mid and high ranges and the rich bass. But would love to have any of them though.
Thank you for allowing James to play and comment on your 3 pianos. It was most interested.
I've always enjoyed the listening and watching James demonstrate different instruments.
Of the pianos played, it strikes me Fazioli is the warmest, Bösendorfer has a unique squareness to the sound, Steinway is the richest. They're all great, but each to their own.
Fazioli was the warmest to you? When I heard it after the Steinway I was a little uneasy by how bright it was. Still beautiful though.
@@skrutten_ I agree with completely!
@@skrutten_ The Fazioli I know the best is quite an early one. It was a beautiful piano - warm across the keyboard.
So subjective... "Muddy" is what one says of the Steinway if one prefers a bright sound. Only the Steinway had what I heard as a warm upper register. But I don't like "presence' (hotter treble) so much.
Trade-off with the extra resonance of the larger pianos: to me they sounded murky and lacking clarity in the Debussy's mid-range, while the Steinway retained better definition.
The bass of the Steinway was simply weaker for sure, and the damper action just not good.
Playing the Fazoli starts at 3:50. Sounds so beautiful, like playing crystal clear ice bells. Love the comparison of the Big Three!
My thoughts exactly. Crystalline. There’s really not one better. But the Fazioli is that particular.
whats the name of the song at 3:50
Can you tell me what is this piece name please? thanks a lot.
The Bösendorfer sound great. so warm, harmonic and a beauty sound.
What I love with the Bösen (both as tuner and musician) is that is has a both a very round sound (oddly both discinct and rich) and it is very even in timbre and volume between all regesters. I’ve always loved the Fazioli, but never had the oportunity to tune one. I’ve tuned more Stieinways than I can count... very clear discanto rich timbre - in many ways similar to the Blütner - (the Yamaha is based on a Steinway but I hate it as a tuner because how they build it, making it very hard to tune), but I always find the Bösen the smothest sound.
The Steinway, Blütner and Yamaha fit well for more sticking out in jazz or a piano concerto, as the Bösen is better for solo piano works or something that blends into an orchestra.
And I agree with you about the bas of the Bösen. The reason ”loud” ”sounds better” on the Steinway and tha Fazi is because of their brilliant and strong overtones which give them a more brilliance and thus cuts through more.
For me, it is like a violin and and alto violin... the alto doesn’t stick out as much, but is more rounder and richer.
Great video, thanks from the land of Fazioli!
the Fazioi is Amazing! the pianissimo so sweet..... Bosendorfer lower register and Steinway upper register ...
I have become aware that dealers and rebuilders are advertising on my channel before and during the videos. I do not support any company unless I chose to do videos at their location.
Now I'm curious. Gonna turn off adblock for a bit, but only for this channel.
I have not seen any since I pinned that comment, but there was one really shady Steinway reseller from Texas, and also one large rebuilder that I know little about. I do not want people to think that I endorse these businesses. If I like a company I would gladly go to their place of business to review their hard work.
Three beautiful pianos with their own personalities! And an able bodied performer to bring them to life! Very enjoyable! Thanks for posting!
Totally depends on personal taste. For me the Bösendorfer. Very soft, warm and still full.
The 3-way I never knew I wanted :) Thanks, James!
Each one of them has their only personality... But the Bosendorfer is powerful and at the same time, peaceful... and you can literally feel its strong when you call for it. But i am a Steinway kinda guy, so... :)
Thanks for this amazing video!
All 3 are winners, but my choice:
1) Bosendorfer
2) Fazioli
3) Steinway
Thanks for making this video and thanks for show us your piano’s!
There’s no comparison. They are all incredible.
thank you for this once in a lifetime video for both the pianist and the viewers. appreciate it
Bösendorfer all the way. Ice in the highs, a dragon in the lows. Give me a beast to control. I love that piano.
I had the pleasure of hearing Paolo Fazioli in discussion with a group of Renner technicians in 1994 where he discussed the modifications he had made to their action and why. This happened at Music Messe in Frankfurt. I was working the show and would go to the Fazioli stand each morning to play his incredible pianos before the public arrived. One morning I was playing, Paolo tapped me on the shoulder, asked me to stop playing and then I got to be the fly on the wall as I listened to a mind blowing discussion in which the Renner engineers would listen, comment, sometimes disagree and then Paolo would blow their minds with the proof which was in the sound but also a brilliant differentiator in what he did as a performance action nuance. Renner insisted that a pianist would want the hammer to get to the string with as little resistance as possible. Fazioli said that he had modified the action to give the player more control as the hammer was headed to the string, almost like the ability to hold it up slightly. It was fascinating to hear this entire discussion and after the Renner techs left I checked the action and could actually feel what he was talking about. He gave me a knowing look and a nod. I can't wait until the day I own one of his pianos.
Greg Lee ‘
Thank you for this lovely insight!
I grew up playing Steinways. Now I own a Mason Hamlin model A, and it serves my needs for the size of my home. Recently I hosted an event and brought in concert artist Jan Lisiecki to perform. In the contract, I had to supply a concert grand. Doing my part I decided to rent a Fazioli over a Steinway. I made the right decision. My Lisiecki plays world-wide and when he sat down at the Fazioli and started to play, my guest told me this was a life-moving experience. The sound was superb. Thank you for this video. I found it very enjoyable to watch, and will start to follow you more.
May I know what’s the name of song played 5:27? Bach is amazing!
They all sound SO beautiful! The Steinway has a gorgeous blend and mellow honey tone with rich bass. The Fazioli seemed to have more clearly defined individual notes, and bigger differences in the character of each register, with an awesome voice-like low range and creamy mid-range. The Bosendorfer was beautiful but I felt its tone was a little more hollow.
Great video again! I’m envious of you! If I entered that room, I don’t think I’d leave! All the pianos have their own character and is unfair to compare but they all sound great, even out of my iPhone speaker!
I would love to play any of those gorgeous pianos....they are all the best of the best and have the price tag to go with it!! That Bosendorfer Imperial Grand is an unbelievable instrument and my favorite of the three....those bell tones in the upper register ring out at the slightest touch and the bass has such a gorgeous resonance!! For $200,000, it should be the best! For me the Fazioli is a close runner up and especially lush on the bass end! Interesting you favored the Fazioli. The one thing missing for me as a listener is of course to actually sit down to experience the action under my own fingertips and the fact that the Bosendoerfer is from 1993 could certainly make a big difference for you in your assessment. The only piano I have played of the 3 you sampled is the Steinway and it was a dream really...very responsive under my fingertips, but it's been quite a long time. The days of my old recitals when I played a grand piano are long over and now I play digital only (in my case a Roland RD-700). It's not the same as an acoustic piano at all, but it works for me and fits my life. You are so fortunate to have had this chance to compare these phenomenal instruments. I have subscribed. Pleased to meet you. Take good care, ~Jackie
Being that I love the music of Schubert I absolutely adore the clean crisp tones of the Bosendorfer... They are all wonderful pianos in their own way!
I can't believe I am saying this but the Fazioli seems to me to be the better sounding piano here. Nice job on the video
Fazioli is emerging as the best piano producer in the world. I sell pianos in ny, over the last 2 years I see Fazioli demand exploding, while Steinway dropping. The thing is that Fazioli are extremely rare due to their small production. A top school wanted to replace all their old steinway and baldwin with Fazioli, but Fazioli factory could simply not sustain the production.
Steinway has really fallen from grace lately. I mean the dogmatic view a lot of the employees and company big wigs so to speak have really brought that company down. I mean they are a good pianos, but it they have problems. For 1 they do not seem to be willing to abandon the soundboard crown creation method which has been replaced with much better methods. They still say that their action is the best out there despite Wessel Nickel and Gross closely followed by Renner being miles ahead. The back action is still in the stone age so to speak with massive problems that have been pointed out to them time after time for literally decades with the position of Steinway being that to change a Steinway action would be to make it somehow worse.
That mentality has mean that all of the other piano manufacturers have gone from copying them to improving upon their design and surpassing them. Yamaha, Mason and Hamlin, Fazioli, kawaii, bechstein, and others have evolved massively over the years while Steinway has refused to adapt and therefore has been left behind.
You pair that with the letter they sent out to all of the piano technicians and many piano stores threatening a lawsuit for rebuilding their pianos with non-Steinway parts did not land well either. My mentor responded to that by saying he would never allow a piano to leave his shop in such a low condition. Insinuating that Steinway's pianos were blatantly inferior to what he produced after a rebuild. And he was right. the Steinway soundboard, action, stringing, scale all were far below the standard of that shop. Even the pinblock was not up to standard when compared to their custom pinblock design.
Woww I can't believe those 3 pianos are together in the same rom! It's insane! Very good comparison James, as for my personal taste I stick with the Bosendorfer, but it would be difficult to chose between the Steinway and the Fazioli.
Love the 'growl' the Bosendorfer has when you did that Adele? bit. Thanks to you and the owner giving us a chance to hear this as well.
I loved this review. As you were playing the different instruments with your full range of songs I could very clearly hear the differences between the tonal quality and richness of the tones and under and overtones. Of course the quality of the compressed file from RUclips doesn't do full justice to any of the pianos, but listening with good quality headphones really highlighted the differences. I was happy that your opinions of the sound quality of each instrument pretty much matched my own. It means that 40 years of working on mostly jet aircraft and having to deal with tinnitus 24/7 has not diminished my ability to hear the subtle nuances in music and has not affected my enjoyment of it.
A very enjoyable video review. Nicely done and an excellent analysis.
James, I must confess, you are a great pianist. Btw, I really like the fazioli sound. My faforite
Outstanding review for pianists or those who just appreciate and love the piano.
My former teacher, Mrs Simpson, would have adored this programme .......and those gentle raps across my knuckles when I dropped my hands down proved ever so useful......
James Hennighan
Yorkshire, England
I listened on two different occasions about four days apart. I intentionally did the first listen with really (atrociously) bad laptop speakers; nowhere near RUclips Quality (sic) Sound. The second time I listened with really good electronics and headphones; way better than the RUclips source. The first time I had figured out you would probably choose the Fazioli because of the way you lit up while playing it; it does have monstrous bass and a great, modern action. I chose the Bösendorfer as my favorite; I love the bright voicing.
Oddly, I made the same choices the second time after a lot of critical listening. What I didn't hear on the first listen is the way complex chords on the Fazioli seemed to sound busy and congested with overtones and sympathetic vibration, where the Bösendorfer remained clean and clear on the same piece. The Steinway is a drop-dead gorgeous work of art. It does everything well, but it was easy to tell that the action and big sound of the Fazioli won your heart on that day... playing those pieces...
BTW, I don't play, all pianos feel the same to me, so it took your explanation of the different piano actions before I figured out why you liked the Fazioli so much. I spent a lot of the second listen watching your face and body language, and now it all makes sense.
Super awesome! Thanks for the comprehensive review but most of all your enthusiasm! Have a happy day everyone 🤸
Man I’d love to put my hands on all these grands!! I’ve played the 9 foot Steinway at performance halls & on the road, and there’s nothing more exciting than sitting at a 9 foot grand piano!!! (Love your playing at 12:11, & at 19:01 !!!). Only grand I traveled with was a Yamaha.
I completely agree with your critique about the low ends, touch, pedals, resonance, etc.
Besides the sound, My two biggest peeves are:
(1) feeling any mechanical movement pounding back up on my fingertips after I’ve pressed a key down, and then
(2) any mechanical slop or ringing after a keys released. That greatly reduces your speed playing. My 71 fender Rhodes had the absolute WORST key release ringing, until I fixed it with some felt for the hammers to fall back on. (I should’ve told Fender about that mod. That was the Cheapest most significant mechanical modification I’ve ever made to a piano)
(3) how smoothly rounded the edge of the keys are, which spares your thumb when performing thumb slides up & down the full keyboard.
(4) how solid the low end is! **I must have a strong low A!** I own an inexpensive Casio Privia PX-350 that I tote around for practice, which has an incredibly strong low A!! I have one composition that HAS to have a strong low A fundamental!
Great video, privilege to hear all 3 :)
I feel so privileged each time I am allowed to play such wonderful instruments, never mind three in the same room. I can not honestly believe that someone would allow me play instruments of that calibra. I feel like I am the luckiest guy in the world.
I'll take all 3, one for the living room, one for the bedroom, one for the kitchen
They are all good. Excellent workmanship. Well played His opinion matters most as he is playing and evaluating as he plays
What is great about the Fazioli is how incredibly well the bass middle register blends. It just feels incredibly in tune. The Bösendorfer feel a bit like either the bass in not exactly in tune, or maybe the intonation is off. But the low note somehow seem off. But what’s really outstanding on the Bösendorfer is everything from Alto register upwards. It just has such a magic sparkle to it! Just listen to the beginning of the first piece! Both the Steinway and the Fazioli seem bland and muted compared to the Bösendorfer, which just sings!
I wrote too soon.
Yes, I stayed to the end, and appreciate your break down of the action of each piano, and answered my questions. Thanks so much!
Fazioli has the finest and clear, crystalline sound. Bösendorfer has a powerful acoustic sound. Steinway is a normal piano.
I almost agree! The Steinway piano is not a normal piano, it is great piano! The Fazioli and Bösendorfer are better!
I think it is correct!
personally i like the steinway and the bosendorfer the best
József Pala steinway is great enough but i wonder why it has so many fans
Fazioli.
@@jozsefpala5487 a great piano is actually a normal piano.. Otherwise its not a piano
Such a great video I am enjoying for the second time in a year. The dark brooding base of the Bosendorfer is my favourite.
The deep low growling bases of the Bösendorfer and bright roundness of her trebles is a signature of that timeless maker. Also, the projection in a larger room would be filled to overflowing.
Ditto, the Faz. I owned a perfectly restored Steinway Model M, made in 1929, bought it from an “artists’ pianos” company in L.A. Boy, I loved that Steinway. I moved many times and the piano even fell down a flight of stairs, pinning the mover to the wall. Served him right! I was shocked to hear the upper treble range notes of the Steinway in this vid as like an ice pick in my ears. The plodding Bosendorfer would also be my 3rd choice. I bet I was the only 10 y/o child who begged for a piano, but also happily practiced every day. James, you’re awesome and we look forward to your musical future.
where is the C. BECHSTEIN?
Thank you.
The Steinway sounds very dry, very precise. No coloration, great balance. The piano doesn't add or take away anything from your performance or the composition.
The Fazioli sounds like somebody really cares that no register be less than perfect in every way. Really great treble and a bass which doesn't sound forced. I could imagine this being an instrument for perfectionists who understand what the composer intended.
The Bösendorfer is absolutely another instrument, entirely. I don't like it better than the other two, but there is no question in my mind that it was built by people who got where Beethoven went, regardless of what the technology of his time could offer.
If I had to choose one, it would be the Fazioli for Debussy, Ravel, Mozart, Bach. For Beethoven (my favorite), it would be the Bösendorfer. The Steinway would be a great piano for a master such as Glenn Gould. He could awaken its cold soul.
There is another comparable piano that may be worth a trial, the Feurich, a handmade German piano. I played a Feurich concert grand in the 1980s, and a Bach chorale was absolutely transparent played in the bottom two octaves! The sustain power was amazing! It sounded like real voices singing.
Thanks so much for sharing this experience/opportunity! I admit the differences were hardly there for me - at first. But with each new piece you played, the differences became more audible. You summed them up really well.
All sound amazing. I picture the Steinway in a home or small auditorium. The Fazioli sounds like it was made to fill a large cathedral. Overall the Bosendorfer sounds the most balanced to me.
An Imperial is everything but not a balanced piano at all! May be you need to listen it life...
I hear an inborn Church narrative,a kind of classicism of the Baroque, spired Cathedrals, very poignant.
The Bosendorfer had the most childlike quality, naturalistic, gurgling brook in the woods.....
The Steinway sounds like a Broadway auditioning piano, Gershwin gushing!
Bosendorfer reminds me of Christmas Carols in a Mountain Lodge and Coltrane's piano player, though I can hear Alturo Sandoval on a Fazioli in a heartbeat....
Gorgeous pianos, thanks for posting.
When you realize this room costs more than 1million
does anyone know what he plays at 3:28? It seems to be his standard sound test piece and I'd love to learn it if there's a transcription anywhere.
Clair de lune on the Fazioli is something special
You were spot on to what I observed. I couldn't feel the play of keys but I watched your fingers move and that difference chunky verses smooth was noticeable. Thank you this review. I love the piano but it was not an instrument I could play, eye to brain to fingers just didn't work in my brain. You were a dream to listen to. My version of heaven♡
Fazioli fan here. You mentioned all the things I love about this brand. Fun to “hear” the comparison of all three. Thanks for sharing.
I can’t believe you have my 3 favorite pianos in one room. What heaven this place is.
I’ve had the privilege of playing both the Bosenforfer as well as the Fazioli. In my opinion, the Bosendorfer just has that unapologetically magical sound when played live. You can definitely tell the craftsmanship in its tone. The Fazioli has such a beautifully bright and crisp tone to it, but (in my opinion) is missing that smooth structured sound that comes from the pianos action. Each piano crafted beautifully, however, I still prefer a Bosendorfer.
Forget the pianos! My gosh, what is that BEAUTIFUL piece you are playing?!
Bosendorfer hands down.! Just a great sounding piano. More body and crispness. just a nice balance all around. unbelievable Sustain and tone. It is Amazing.
Beautiful sound and, even more touching to me, there are so many beautiful comments. Thanks for having this interesting video. It has soothed many beautiful souls here.
That Fazioli stands out as a more tight and right sound to me. Great comparison.
What's the song at 15:19? I don't find it anywhere but it's so beautiful. Please help me :D
I came here fully expecting to prefer the Bosendorfer, but the Fazioli blew me away. From the first few notes, it seemed so much more present and alive.
Besides, as romantic as the idea that "every piano is unique" is, there is something to be said for consistency.
Oh to be surrounded by a half million dollars worth of keys! I know I would have felt like I'd died and gone to heaven. Your playing certainly does justice to these magnificent instruments. They all sound different and each is perfectly beautiful in it's own right. My own "died and gone to heaven" moment happened when I was taking my last piano exam in a concert hall and being judged by two incredible edudicators ... the instrument was a Bechstein and till then I had not touched a more perfect instrument ... I had to remind myself several times that this was an exam that I was doing and to get over the fact that I was conversing with perfection.
OK. Here's my take: All 3 pianos sound fantastic. The Steinway and the Fazioli are at two ends of the yardstick, with the Bosendorfer in the middle, according to my ears. It all depends on what kind of sound you prefer. All 3 are excellent pianos. I prefer the Steinway, as you could probably push it harder without it breaking up. It also depends on how hard or soft you play each piano. I think the Steinway is more capable of handling whatever you bring to it. Thanks for the comparison. I make classical guitars for a living. The same holds true. Different makers produce different sounding guitars. They are all different from each other, but they all have merit. You can't own just one! You might have different classical guitars for different kinds of music, or the sound of your fingernails will be different from one guitar to the next. It's a matter of finding which guitars, or piano, that fits with you and that suits your taste. That said, very few musicians can afford the best pianos and the best classical guitars. In the end, a quality instrument IS a quality instrument. One is not better than the other, only different, as long as they are on the highest level of construction. Instruments are like people. I have several quality friends, and I love them all, and they are totally different from each other. Your playing is lovely, BTW.
Thank you for your selection of music with explanation.
The Fazioni,had a most wonderful sound and was on power with the Bosendofer.i loved them both.ofcourse the Fazioni has the length and therefore volume.was glad of your explanation of the lighter touch of the steinway.however the steinway comes 3 rd in my view.thank you once again for your demonstration of several pieces.look forward to your next demonstration.thank you so much. Romaine
For this particular three pianos in this video, I would first choose Bösendorfer, second Fazioli and third Steiway & Sons.
Based on the clearly projected sounds. Pedalling issue whether is accounted or not, we could listen to the interesting varieties of tones.
Now this is an education ! Thank you
I agree with most of the others: The Bosendorfer clearly wins. A few years ago we had the choice between a Steinway C (227 cm) and a Bösendorfer 225 - and here also the Bosendorfer was by far the better choice for 2/3 of the price. Sadly we had to sell the Bosendorfer, and today we own a Bluethner - and again when in the process of choosing, the Bluethner was for our ears the better choice over any Steinway we tested this time.
Steinway for jazz, fazioli for classical, and the Bosen, well it's a Bosen, it can do anything!
Not sure why Fazioli for Classical and Steinway for jazz. Steinway is pretty much the standard for Classical and many, many jazz players perform and have recorded on Steinways. Fazioli is getting quite popular with jazz musicians as well. Its clear tone and its quick dampers work very well for jazz. And it's great for hearing the tones in complex jazz voicings. All three can play both Classical and jazz.
Ever play a Mason Hamiln? I got my paws on a 1927 version being redone at Clark Music in syracuse, and thought i was at the controls of a B 52 in fighter jet copnfiguration (hard to imagine?..trust me).
I learned to play on my Mother's Mason & Hamlin (made in early 1900's). Nothing can compare to it. My opinion is that it is the very best!!
Complimenti James, ottima recensione!