Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt has reported her customized Fazioli concert grand piano has been dropped by piano movers during transport.
Hewitt had been finishing up the recording of her forthcoming album, Beethoven Variations, in Berlin. Spirits were high, until piano movers came into the recording studio control room to report that they had dropped the piano.
The piano was subsequently inspected by Fazioli’s team of piano technicians and determined that the damage to the frame, case and action were beyond repair.
“The iron frame is broken, as well as much else in the structure and action (not to mention the lid and other parts of the case),” Hewitt wrote on her Facebook page announcing the news. “It makes no sense, financially or artistically, to rebuild this piano from scratch. It’s kaputt.”
The piano had been artistically significant to Hewitt, who used it to record all her albums since 2003. It was also the only F278 model Fazioli in existence to have the 4-pedal mechanism.
“I adored this piano,” Hewitt wrote. “It was my best friend, best companion. I loved how it felt when I was recording — giving me the possibility to do anything I wanted.”
Hewitt seems to be taking the loss in stride, expressing gratitude that no one was hurt.
“The movers of course were mortified. In 35 years of doing their job, this had never happened before […] I hope my piano will be happy in piano heaven.”
Fazioli concert grands are considered to be one of the best concert grand pianos available and run between $128,000 to $234,000 USD.
The lost piano can be heard here:
#LUDWIGVAN
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