The piano, designed by Kossuth Prize-winning pianist Gergely Bogányi was introduced to the media at the Budapest Music Centre. Hungary Today says.
Former rector of the Music Academy, András Batta, described the new piano as “a miracle.” He said the new instrument has two main roots, one being famous Hungarian composer Ferenc (Franz) Liszt, whose music and piano style inspired many piano makers. The other one is Lajos Beregszászy, a successful Hungarian piano maker of the 19th Century, according to Magyar Nemzet Online (Click on the link to hear the piano).
Bogányi wished to create a different sound for modern pianists. Hungary Today’s report said piano acoustics have become uniform and modern concert halls are dominated by Steinway pianos. A different sound was created by Paolo Fazioli in the 1970s.
Bogányi said:
“Steinway and the other companies make outstanding pianos – I don’t think it’s possible to do something better along that path. For this reason, we took a different direction”.
He added:
“Its legs serve to deflect the sound towards the audience”.
The piano uses a carbon composite material for its soundboard, which has advantages over wood, such as not warping in different climates.
So far, the piano, which costs about $240 000 U.S., has had a lot interest, but no buyers.
