There are several high-quality concert grand piano manufacturers in the world, each known for their incredible craftsmanship. Every instrument has its own unique tonal character and playing experience, which is why, in many cases, it is more appropriate to select the piano based on the piece being performed or the artist’s personal style - rather than simply accepting whatever instrument the concert hall provides.

An article recently published in BR-KLASSIK Magazine features an interview with the world-renowned pianist András Schiff, in which he also addresses this topic. We are sharing the relevant excerpt from the interview without any modifications:

András Schiff: Steinway Grands Dominate Concert Halls
 

BR-KLASSIK: You are playing there on a historical instrument, the fortepiano. What does the fortepiano have that the modern grand piano lacks?

András Schiff: A lot. The world of piano music has become very one-sided - in blunt terms, globalized. Steinway dominates the piano world. Steinway is a wonderful grand piano, but not all Steinways are the same either. The audience and pianists have practically accepted without saying a word that no matter where or what composer’s piano music is being heard, it is played on a Steinway. To that, I would like to say: please, let us be open-minded and continue to play, but not exclusively on Steinways. There are also Bechstein, Bösendorfer, Fazioli, Yamaha, and others. It doesn't always have to be Steinway by default.

BR-KLASSIK: And in the past?

András Schiff: In the past, there were different instruments. In the time of Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert, there were more than 100 or 200 piano makers in Vienna alone, and all the instruments were completely different. What can the old instruments do that a modern grand cannot? A modern grand prides itself on being totally balanced from top to bottom. The old instruments are not balanced; they have at least three distinct registers: bass, middle, and treble. And these are different - the bass is much more transparent, much clearer, because the bass strings are not as thick and powerful as those on a Steinway. And let us not forget that all of these earlier composers did not compose for the modern Steinway. They had this register-based sound aesthetic.

Source: BR-KLASSIK