New grand pianos for Muziekgebouw Eindhoven: ‘An outstanding instrument truly makes a big difference’
Steinway & Sons grand pianos are celebrated worldwide for their exceptional sound. More than sixty per cent of each instrument is crafted by hand, giving every piano a unique soul and tone colour. Careful selection is therefore crucial in order to find the ultimate concert grand for Muziekgebouw Eindhoven.
Quality
After around ten years, the current concert grands are now due for replacement. Jeroen Smits, Head of Classical Music at Muziekgebouw Eindhoven, explains: ‘Here we host pianists of the very highest calibre. The first thing they do is check the serial number of the concert grand, and then play, listen and feel whether the instrument has the sound and refinement they are looking for. An outstanding piano really does make a difference to the calibre of artists we can bring to Eindhoven.’ Muziekgebouw Eindhoven factors this replacement into its budget to ensure that the musical quality for visitors is safeguarded.
Marc van Hoorn, owner of Van Hoorn Pianos and the venue’s regular piano tuner for thirty-three years, explains in this article why a new grand piano is needed in the first place. ‘The soundboard, the very element that gives the piano its character, is under tension in a new instrument. The older the piano becomes, the more this tension fades. And that has a direct impact on the instrument’s character. And because the pianists who perform here are so dynamic and expressive, drawing the very utmost from an instrument, it is essential that the grand pianos can fully convey that power and refinement.’
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Boris Giltburg plays one of the candidate grand pianos
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From left to right: Dennis Voskuil (Head of Production, MgE), Jack Pisters (Director, MgE), Marc van Hoorn (Van Hoorn Pianos), Monique van Hoorn (Van Hoorn Pianos) and Jeroen Smits (Head of Classical Music, MgE)
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The decision-making process is an intensive one
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A moment of joy as the first grand piano is chosen
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For a pianist, it is not only about the sound, but also about the tactile feedback
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By bringing together everyone’s expertise, we ensure the highest quality
Top pianist
For the selection process in Hamburg, renowned pianist Boris Giltburg joined the group. He performs regularly at Muziekgebouw Eindhoven and therefore knows better than anyone how the sound of a grand piano carries in the Hertog Jan Hall and the Small Hall. But it is not only the sound that matters; the instrument must also be a pleasure to play. It is precisely this combination that makes the presence of a top pianist such as Giltburg so essential when selecting a concert grand.
Impact on lifespan
The three new grand pianos are scheduled for delivery in September. In October, they will officially be put into use during concerts. When not in use, the instruments are kept in the piano storage room beneath the stage of the Hertog Jan Hall. Van Hoorn explains: ‘The storage room provides the ideal climate for the pianos. If we didn’t do that, it would have a major impact on the instrument’s lifespan.’ And it’s not only the climate that matters. ‘Don’t underestimate the smoke machines used at certain concerts. They cause the brass to oxidise, similar to the effect of hands coming into contact with the instrument’s strings.’
Muziekgebouw Eindhoven has found a new home for the old grand pianos, so they can continue to be enjoyed for many years to come outside its own concert halls.
This season too, you can hear the world’s leading pianists at Muziekgebouw Eindhoven.