Category Archives: Piano

darjastravstisu__Alberto Ferro

2nd Ljubljana Festival International Piano Competition 2026

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The second edition of the Ljubljana Festival International Piano Competition concluded on 1 March 2026 in Ljubljana, organized by Festival Ljubljana.

The triennial competition continues to establish itself as one of the most important international piano competitions in Central Europe, bringing together outstanding young pianists from around the world and presenting demanding repertoire from the classical, romantic and modern piano literature.

This year’s edition once again confirmed the high artistic level of the competition and the growing international recognition of the event.

Winner of the 2026 Competition

The winner of the 2026 Ljubljana Festival International Piano Competition is Italian pianist Alberto Ferro, who received the Ljubljana City Award after impressing both the jury and the audience with his musical interpretation and technical mastery.

Official Results – Ljubljana Festival Piano Competition 2026

1st Prize – Ljubljana City Award
Alberto Ferro – performed on a Fazioli piano

2nd Prize – Triglav Insurance Award
Youl Sun – performed on a Fazioli piano

3rd Prize – Ljubljana Festival Award
Zhiquan Wang – performed on a Steinway & Sons piano

4th Prize
Jonathan Mak – Fazioli

5th Prize
Elia Cecino – Fazioli

6th Prize
Heeseong Noh – Fazioli

Special Awards for Outstanding Performances

Several special diplomas were awarded for exceptional interpretations of works from different musical periods.

Best Performance of a Classical Sonata
Heeseong Noh – Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111 by Ludwig van Beethoven

Best Performance of a Romantic Work
Jonathan Mak – Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 5 by Johannes Brahms

Best Performance of a 20th Century Work
Zhiquan Wang – La Valse by Maurice Ravel
Youl Sun – Trois mouvements de Petrouchka by Igor Stravinsky

Best Performance of a 21st Century Work
Kiryl Bartashevich – Étude No. 2 “Sequenzen” by Unsuk Chin

Best Performance of a Work by Fryderyk Chopin
Matteo Bortolazzi – 24 Preludes, Op. 28 by Fryderyk Chopin

Competition Statistics and Instrument Choice

The 2026 competition also revealed interesting statistics regarding instrument selection among the participants.

  • 29 pianists participated in the competition

  • 17 competitors chose the F278 concert grand piano by Fazioli

  • Among the 12 pianists admitted to the second round, 9 performed on Fazioli

  • In the final round, 5 of the 6 finalists performed on a Fazioli piano, while one finalist chose a Steinway & Sons instrument

These numbers illustrate the range of instrument choices made by pianists during the competition and highlight the presence of the Fazioli F278 among the available concert instruments.

Watch the Winner’s Final Performance

Below you can watch the video of the winning final performance, recorded at the closing concert of the Ljubljana Festival International Piano Competition 2026.

The performance captures the artistic level of the finalists and the atmosphere of the competition’s concluding evening.

© Darja Štravs Tisu

rabljen pianino servis

Pitfalls When Buying a Used Piano or Grand Piano

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Buying a used piano or grand piano can be a great opportunity to acquire a quality instrument at an affordable price. However, there are several pitfalls that you should be aware of to avoid potential problems and financial losses. Below, we’ll discuss the most common pitfalls and provide tips on how to avoid them.

Technical Deficiencies and Wear A used piano or grand piano may be quite worn, which can affect its functionality and sound quality.

Common issues include:

  • Damaged strings and hammers: Over the years, strings may lose tension or break, and hammers may wear out, preventing them from properly striking the strings.
  • Keyboard problems: Keys may stick, fail to return to their original position, or show uneven wear.
  • Damaged soundboard: Damage or cracks in the soundboard can significantly affect the instrument’s sound and resonance.
Razpoka na pianinu

Improper Storage and Maintenance A used piano or grand piano that hasn’t been properly maintained or was stored in unsuitable conditions can have numerous hidden issues. Fluctuations in humidity, temperature changes, and unwanted guests (moths, mice…) can cause damage to the wood, strings, and mechanics of the instrument. Before purchasing, it’s important to check if the instrument was stored in an appropriate environment, regularly maintained, and played.

Age and Manufacturer The age and manufacturer of a piano or grand piano can greatly impact its value and quality. Older instruments, while they may have historical and aesthetic value, are often less reliable and require more maintenance. Additionally, not all manufacturers are of the same quality, so it’s important to research the history before purchasing.

Some key points to consider when determining the age of the instrument are:

  • Serial number: This number can help determine the year of manufacture. Most sellers have databases where you can check the age of the instrument based on the serial number.
  • Visual inspection: Age can also be evident through wear on the exterior, keyboard, and internal parts. If possible, also inspect the back of the instrument to ensure there are no visible cracks in the soundboard.
  • Condition of the mechanics: The mechanics of a piano wear out over time, so it’s important to check the condition of the hammers, strings, and other parts.
koliko je star pianino

Be Careful When Buying Factory/Professionally Reconditioned Pianos and Grand Pianos – the So-Called Grey Market Pianos

“Grey market” pianos and grand pianos are used instruments from Japan. Due to cultural reservations, Japanese people do not purchase second-hand goods, so these pianos are exported to the EU and the US after partial refurbishment. Most of these are Yamaha and Kawai pianos aged between 20-40 years. Therefore, it’s extremely important to check the age of the instrument before purchasing. When buying such instruments, you might encounter the following issues:

  • Non-original replacement parts: Many used pianos only have a “new appearance” and are not restored in Yamaha or Kawai factories, so the parts used do not meet their standards.
  • Poor adaptation to the environment: These pianos are not dried according to standards for the EU and US markets and have been in the very humid Japanese climate for many years, where humidity exceeds 70%.
  • **Wooden parts of pianos react to changes in humidity and temperature, which can cause serious problems, such as soundboard cracks and loss of wood elasticity, resulting in the instrument no longer holding its tuning.
  • Lack of warranty: The warranty is not covered by the manufacturer, meaning you will bear the costs of all repairs and maintenance yourself.

More information can be found in the article by Yamaha technician David Durben published on the Yamaha website. Statement from Yamaha piano technician: Four Things You Need to Know About Gray Market Pianos.

starost pianina Yamaha
starost pianina Kawai

Additional Costs

  • Service costs: The price of a used piano or grand piano may seem attractive at first glance, but hidden repair costs can quickly add up. Repairs to strings, hammers, keys, and other components can be expensive, so it is advisable to have a professional inspection of the instrument before purchase and to obtain an estimate of potential repair costs.
  • Moving costs: Before buying, also check the transportation conditions. Pianos or grand pianos are heavy and delicate instruments, so check whether safe transportation is included in the price. If the move requires a caterpillar transporter, the estimated cost is €100 plus VAT and mileage. If the instrument needs to be carried manually, the moving cost is higher. Unfortunately, it is often impossible to transport the instrument except through a window or balcony; in such cases, a crane truck is used, which incurs additional costs.
kombi za selitve klavirjev

Tips for a Safe Purchase

  • Conduct a thorough inspection: Before buying, thoroughly inspect the instrument or hire a piano technician who will check its condition. The technician can also assess transportation options and give you a realistic evaluation of the instrument.
  • Test the instrument: Try playing the piano or grand piano to check its sound quality and operation.
  • Check the documentation: Review the instrument’s maintenance and repair history.
  • Check the instrument’s age: During the viewing, note the serial number of the piano or grand piano. For age determination, you can contact us.
  • Check transportation conditions: Pianos or grand pianos are heavy and delicate instruments, so ensure that safe transportation is included in the price.

Check our offer of used pianos and grand pianos

Buying a used piano or grand piano can be a great opportunity to acquire a quality instrument, but it’s important to conduct a thorough inspection before finalizing the purchase. With the right approach and care, you can find an instrument that will serve you for many years.

1. Piano competition Ljubljana Festival

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Between 25 February and 4 March, the first International Piano Competition of the Ljubljana Festival took place in Ljubljana – a week of outstanding music-making, remarkable interpretations, and unforgettable artistic moments.

An Unforgettable Week of Pianistic Excellence

Outstanding young pianists from around the world took to the stage, captivating both the audience and the distinguished jury with highly demanding and inspiring performances. The competition was marked by an exceptional level of musicality, technical mastery, and artistic maturity, confirming that the future of piano artistry is in excellent hands.

Our sincere congratulations go to the First Prize winner, Kai-Min Chang, who impressed the nine-member international jury. We also warmly congratulate Second Prize winner Yuanfan Yang and Kostandin Tashko, recipient of the 6th Prize. Special prizes were awarded to Ilja Šmukler, Yuanfan Yang, Jonathan Mak, and Urban Stanič – each leaving a powerful artistic impression with their performances.

Heartfelt congratulations also to all other competitors. Being selected to participate in such a demanding international competition is already a remarkable achievement. We wish them continued success, inspiration, and courage in their future artistic careers.

Intense, Demanding – and Truly Rewarding

The competition was exceptionally intense and demanding – not only for the competitors, but also for the technical and organizational teams. Long days of rehearsals, performances, coordination, and preparation required complete dedication from everyone involved. Yet the effort was richly rewarded: all participants were granted an invaluable experience filled with extraordinary musical moments.

Special thanks go to the distinguished jury, chaired by the renowned pianist and professor Dubravka Tomšič Srebotnjak, who faced the challenging task of evaluating an outstanding field of performances. Their professionalism, integrity, and commitment were essential to the credibility and prestige of the competition.

The Grand Final Evenings

The competition culminated in two final evenings, featuring six finalists performing with the Simfonični orkester RTV Slovenija under the baton of conductor Ricardo Castro. The synergy between soloists and orchestra created a truly exceptional musical experience that will remain in the memories of performers and audiences alike.

For those who were unable to attend the first or second final evening, recordings are available on the Facebook profile of the Ljubljana Festival International Piano Competition.

Proud to Continue a Tradition of Excellence

Our sincere gratitude also goes to Paolo Fazioli and Luca Fazioli for their continuous support throughout the competition and for their visit to Slovenia.

We are especially proud that our concert grand piano, the Fazioli F278, continues the tradition of victories achieved by Fazioli pianos at major international competitions. Its depth of tone, color palette, and responsiveness enabled the finalists to express their artistic vision at the highest level.

Congratulations to the entire Ljubljana Festival organizing team for delivering an outstanding inaugural international piano competition. We firmly believe this marks the beginning of a distinguished tradition that will further establish Ljubljana as an important destination on the global map of piano artistry.

PHOTO: Darja Štravs Tisu Photography

selitev klavirjev in pianinov Akademije za glasbo

Relocation of Music Academy

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The professors and students of the Academy of Music started the new academic year in new premises in the renovated Kazina Palace.

With our team, we took care of moving all pianos and pianos from the old location.
The move took place in several stages. We moved the largest part of the instruments on 19/09/2022 – we moved more than 20 pianos and pianos in one day. More in the video below.

In the coming months, we will be delivering more new pianos and pianos to the Academy of Music. Thus, the students of the Academy of Music will really have the best conditions for the development of their talent.

We wish everyone a successful and creative academic year!

Klavirski tehnik Jože Benda

Piano technician vs tuner

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The piano is one of the most complex instruments. It is built of more than 12,000 parts, of which 10,000 are moving. Most parts of piano action (the mechanism between the keyboard and the strings) are small, precise parts that need to be installed in a very small tolerance for proper operation.

When a piano is out of tune, we usually say: »Call a piano tuner.« Piano tuning is about adjusting the tension of the strings of an acoustic piano so that the musical intervals between the strings are tuned. We need a tuning key, a tuning wedge and an electronic tuner for better results to tune the piano.

 

However, when the piano string breaks or when the piano has a very sharp tone despite the tuning, or the piano may be very difficult to play, then more specific knowledge of the piano technician and special tools will be required.

Many materials in piano are made to withstand heavy loads and have a long life. To achieve that we have to provide suitable conditions fort he piano and regular and proper service.

 

klavirski tehnik uglašuje klavir

All piano technicians are piano tuners, but not all piano tuners are piano technicians.

Every piano owner knows that the instrument needs to be tuned once a year, but proper care of a piano is a bit more complicated. It requires knowledge, tools and skills that not every piano tuner has.

A piano technician can do a variety of work on your piano at home – the instrument is first cleaned and inspected, if necessary the action is regulated or voicing can be done to the piano and at the end finally the piano is tuned.

You can read more about individual procedures of piano service here.

 

Piano tuning can be learned by anyone with a little “vein” and a lot of patience, and a piano technician learns and perfects his whole life.

 

In the family owned company called Benton, in addition to selling, moving, renting pianos we also offer a complete service for pianos – from regular maintenance, service and tuning at your home, stage or school classroom throughout Slovenia or in our modern technologically equipped piano workshop.

Jožef Benda – piano technician, founder and director of the Benton Piano Salon, learned the craft from his father, the well-known Slovenian organ maker Andrej Benda. He is a wood technician and a certified piano technician. Today, for more than 30 years on his independent path, he has already completed countless tunings, services, renovations and restored pianos, harpsichords, harmonies and other instruments which he has revived.

 

klavirska tehnika Jože Benda in Matic Benda

Matic Benda – a piano technician who continues the family tradition. He has been fascinated by pianos and piano workshops since he was a child. Few years ago, he also successfully completed the Yamaha Master Technician program in Germany. He also completed a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and contributed to the company with a wealth of knowledge that helps us develop new technologies for even more precise work in our piano workshop.

If you are still looking for the perfect piano for you, now is the right time to find out who will service your instrument during the warranty period.

If you have any questions or want your instrument to be inspected and serviced by a specialized piano technician, give us a call and we will be happy to help you keep your piano quality and good tone for many years to come.

 

Read more Interesting facts about Pianos

Schimmel K213 Glas

Schimmel K213 Glas

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Glass piano or Schimmel Plexiglas, as we call it, is one of our premium pianos, which you can rent for a concert, event, or special event e.g. piano for wedding ….

It is a special model of the German piano manufacturer Schimmel – K213 Glas

Schimmel ART

In Schimmel Pianos they believe that playing the piano should be for all the senses. This prompted them to create the Schimmel ART collection. The pianos in the Schimmel ART collection have been designed in collaboration with renowned designers and artists who create individual works of art for piano and art lovers.

In the Schimmel ART collection you can choose between two piano models, the Schimmel K213 Glas (glass piano) and the Pegasus. The Pegasus model is very rare, with only fourteen made. Three were owned by celebrities – Prince, Eddie Murphy and Lenny Kravitz.

Schimmel Glass piano
Schimmel Pegasus

Schimmel K213 Glas

Model Schimmel Glas was created by Arno Schimmel in 1951, later updated in the 1980s by Mr. Nikolaus Schimmel. The idea was to make a piano for the stage – to be able to lift the lid without covering the musicians and the backdrop.

 

pleksi Schimmel 1951
pleksi Schimmel danes

Different options and price

Schimmel Glas has a housing made of plexiglass (the same material used for bulletproof windows), so at a length of 213 cm it weighs as much as 543 kg.

The piano is available in different versions:

  • housing in white together with white frame and resonant plate. This can be especially attractive on stage, where the piano reflects the color of the stage lighting, where it seems to change color.
  • housing in black with gold frame and resonant bottom in natural color. Normally, all metal parts are gold-plated, but can be chrome-plated if desired.
  • interior lighting with the possibility of dimming

Including the above, there is the option of installing a system for Silent play with headphones or even a system for self-play, as in the clip below.

Because Schimmel Glass is completely flexible, the price depends on the customer’s requirements. The price of the basic model K213 Glas without added lighting is approximately € 90,000.

You can read more about the prices of pianos in the blog post Piano price.

Schimmel k213 Glas white
Schimmel k213 Glas Black

Why is our Schimmel even more special?

In Schimmel K213, our team of technicians at Benton has installed a special RGB lighting, which allows, in addition to the classic white lighting, other colors, depending on the scene where it is located and even the transition from one color to another.

Rent

Schimmel Glas is a very popular piano for events and concerts, as it brightens up any venue with its spectacular appearance and exceptional tone.

We recently delivered the piano to the Song Contest Pesma za Eurovizijo 2022 in Belgrade, where Aca Lukas with a glass piano and violinists Kristal Kvartet on glass violins provided a real show.

Schimmel Glas was also a popular piano of the famous Croatian singer Oliver Dragojević, he performed at concerts around Slovenia and also in the Pula Arena.

The spectatular glass piano is also very popular with Slovenian musicians such as: Lucienne Lončina, Natalija Šaver, Uroš Perić and Balladero, you could also see the piano in the selection for Fatal Man, played by Jana Šušteršič.

At Benton Piano Salon, we have been Schimmel’s authorized dealer for Slovenia since our beginning, around 30 years.

You can try and rent Schimmel K213 Glas for any event in Slovenia or near country. If you are interested in buying a Schimmel piano or upright piano, contact us.

alexander gadjiev_ photo Darek Golik

18th Chopin competition

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“Simplicity is the highest goal you can achieve when you overcome all difficulties.” – Frederic Chopin

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849) is recognized as the greatest Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of French-Polish descent. He is one of the greatest composers for piano, for which he wrote the vast majority of his works, and is considered one of the master’s romantic musicians.

Fans of piano and Chopin in October 2021 were able to watch the XVIII Chopin Competition, which took place between 2.10.-23.10.2021.

The Chopin Competition began in 1927 and has been held every 5 years since 1955. It was scheduled for 2020, but had to be postponed due to the pandemic. This competition is one of the most resounding competitions for pianists.

At the competition we witnessed the extraordinary success of an extremely talented young pianist – Alexander Gadjiev, who is the first Slovenian pianist in the finals of the Chopin Competition.

More than 500 pianists entered the competition, and 151 pianists were selected by the jury in the pre-competition. With an outstanding three performances, Gadjiev reached the finals, among the top 12 pianists. He charmed the jury, critics and audience with his masterful technique and original interpretation.

Alexander Gadjiev achieved an outstanding 2nd place in the competition, which he shared with Japanese pianist Kyohei Sorito. In addition to the exceptional achievement, he also received the Krystian Zimmerman Prize for Best Interpretation of Sonata.

Alexander Gadjiev chose the Kawai Shigeru SK-EX instrument for Chopin’s music, which he says sounds pleasantly blurred and is therefore the right instrument for performing Chopin’s music.

All of his performances at the Chopin Competition can be viewed on the official website of The Chopin Competition 2020

Alexander Gadjiev, Slovenian-Italian pianist, 27-year-old master of black and white keys, won first prize in 2015 at the 9th International Piano Competition in Hamamatsu, 2018 at the Monte-Carlo Piano Masters and 2021 at the International Piano Competition in Sydney.

He has collaborated with symphony orchestras in Monte Carlo, Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Prague, Katowice (NOSPR) and elsewhere. His debut, Literary Fantasies, with compositions by Liszt and Schumann, was released in 2018.

He has been living in Berlin for the last few years, the post office is also a BBC artist of the new generation for the period 2019-2021

Picture: Darek Golik, 2nd stage of the 18th Chopin competition      

 

 

obnova klavirja bosendorfer

Restoration of the Bösendorfer Piano

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The Bösendorfer piano has arrived in our piano workshop for a complete restoration.
The piano had, among other things, a very cracked soundboard as a result of seasonal expansion and shrinkage of the wood due to changes in humidity and temperature in the room where the piano was located.
Bösendorfer has undergone repair attempts in the past, but we can say with certainty that this was not done by a qualified piano technician. With such an intervention in the instrument, even greater damage was done.

Repairing cracks on a soundboard is a very demanding process – it is not just a cosmetic repair, the instrument needs to be completely disassembled – so it is very important that it is repaired by someone who has the knowledge and the right tools to do so.
The soundboard is the heart of the piano and any defects on this mean sound problems in some cases as well as piano failure. Thus, an instrument with a purchase value of over € 80,000 may lose its full value.
We completely disassembled the piano in our piano workshop, professionally repaired the cracks, provided it new original hammers and strings, and took care of its exterior.

We have installed a Benton piano light for the piano, and a custom-made protective cover for the piano will provide protection when the instrument is not being played.

Don’t miss: What are the right conditions for your instrument and how to provide them with a device that costs only a few €?

Does your piano need renovation too? Contact us

Fazioli v Cankarjevem Domu

Fazioli F278 piano review

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The first Fazioli at the Piano Salon Benton is the F278 model. The piano was manufactured in 1996. Recently, one of our long-time clients gave an opinion that certainly describes it the most.

“This piano is like a fine wine. The older, the better! ”

The piano was chosen in Fazioli Pianoforti, located in the town of Sacile, in the province of Pordenone (60km northeast of Venice). When choosing the piano in Fazioli, we were accompanied by pianist Aci Bertoncelj, whose opinion was very important to us, as he was our greatest constructive critic, who helped us a lot in achieving perfect tones. He also had a very big impact on the development of our company, and he was also our good friend!

 

fazioli 278 Benton
Fazioli string
Fazioli tipke

 

 

Concerts

Fazioli pianos are also available for renting for concerts and events all over Slovenia, and occasionally also to Croatia and Austria. Over 300 concerts have been performed on our Fazioli F278 in the 25-year history of the piano. A large number of Slovenian and internationally renowned pianists performed on it such as Dubravka Tomšič Srebotnjak, Tatjana Ognjanović, Aci Bertoncelj, Hinko Haas, Tomaž Petrač, Luciene Lončina, Natalija Saver, Uroš Perić, Gašper Konec, Milko Lazar, Herbie Hancock, Aldo Ciccolini, Ivo Pogorelic, Maksim Mrvica, Oliver Dragojevic etc..

The most remote location where it was rented for concerts was Cavtat in Croatia (20km south of Dubrovnik) and Belgrade, Serbia.

One of the most unusual locations is definitely the floating stage in Most na Soči, where firefighters also helped us to lower the piano to the floating stage.

 

dostava z dvigalom
most na soči
klavir na plavajočem odru

 

 

Recording

The Fazioli F278 is also great for recording music records where the piano is in the lead role or as a backing instrument.

The piano is distinguished by an extremely beautiful and unique sound and excellent responsiveness of the keyboard and action. Pianists who recorded on this piano said that they really feel comfortable behind this piano and even long hours of recording, to record the best record, are not a problem.

The first to record his record on it was Luiz de Moura Castro. The first to record his record at the Piano Salon Benton and one of the first to record his record on our first Fazioli piano was also Aci Bertoncelj, who wrote after the recording:

Aci Bertoncelj pianist

»Without an interpreter, music remains a dead art, nothing but black dots on white paper. Some of us interpreters have received the privilege of trying to magically convert the composer ‘s thoughts into a mysterious world of sound, full of wonders.

However, we depend on the instrument under our hands, like a rider depends on his horse. If the animal is an Arab thoroughbred, it will respond to the slightest cue, received from his rider and show up in the full palette of its character, from uncontrollable fieriness and ardour, to delicacy and a heart-stirring attachment to its master.

The sonorous ideal exists only in the head of the interpreter; but if the instrument gives more and sounds even more beautiful than the music in the interpreter’s imagination, it must be the king of all grand pianos – a FAZIOLI.«

Also recorded on Fazioli F278: Uroš Perić, Dominik Bagola – Balladero, Jan Plestenjak, Miran Juvan, Blaž Pucihar, Adriana Magdovska and many others.

 

 

First choice

If we ask pianists, what is your favorite brand of piano? Usually the answer was Steinway, but today Steinway is no longer the only one at the top.

Fazioli is relatively new to the world of pianos, but in less than 40 years of production it has become the first choice of the great artists of our time. Among them are Herbie Hancock, Louis Lortie and Angela Hewitt.

These remarkable pianos are handcrafted in Sacile, in northeastern Italy, a region known for its ancient and prestigious tradition in woodworking. The resonant bottom of the Fazioli pianos is made of wood from the Val de Fiemme valley, a valley in the eastern Italian Alps. Antonio Stradivari used the same wood to make his violins.

The secret of the quality of Fazioli pianos is that no piano leaves production until it is perfect and this is confirmed by Paolo Fazioli himself, the founder and director of Fazioli. Perfect, completely finished and ready for the concert stage.

Paolo Fazioli had a dream. Dreaming of building the best piano in the world. We can definitely say that he succeeded in this and his desire to build the best piano in the world means to improve his own creation. Paolo continues to explore, testing new ideas and new concepts. Together with his son Luca Fazioli, the pursuit of perfection will never stop at this piano factory.

Experience the perfection of Fazioli and see how the Fazioli piano deserves the reputation of impeccable quality by visiting our showroom, where you can try out our 3 models of Fazioli pianos – model F278, F228 and F212.

 

Fazioli Slovenia black
world piano day

Interesting facts about Piano

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Did you know that there is a day dedicated to the piano? Piano Day is celebrated on the 88th day of the year, and the reason for this day is because the piano keyboard has 88 keys.

Piano Day began with the idea of ​​German pianist, composer and producer Nils Frahm in 2015. When Frahm was asked why the world needs a piano day, he replied: “… mostly because it doesn’t hurt to celebrate the piano and everything around it: performers , composers, piano makers, tuners, movers and, most importantly, listeners. ”

Today is therefore dedicated to the history and love of pianos and marked by events that celebrate the piano. You can read more about piano day events on the official pianoday.org website

On this occasion, we have gathered for you some of the most interesting facts about pianos:

  • The first piano was invented in 1709 by the Italian harpsichord maker Bartolomeo di Francesco Cristofori. One of Cristofori’s original pianos still exists at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
  • The word piano is an abbreviated version of the word pianoforte, which means soft (piano) and loud (forte).
  • The piano keyboard has 88 keys. The number of strings depends on the piano model – usually around 230. Nevertheless, according to the way of playing, the piano is classified as an instrument with keys, as the sound is the result of pressing / hitting a key.
  • The piano is an incredibly complex instrument. It is built of more than 12,000 parts, of which 10,000 are moving.
  • Each piano string holds about 70-80 kilograms of tension, so the total tension of the strings is between 15-20 tons. What to do when the string breaks? You can read the answer HERE.
  • The piano has the widest range of tones of all instruments. The piano plays a note lower than the lowest note on the double bass and higher than the upper note of the piccolo.
  • The exact center of the piano keyboard is not C1 but the space between E and F above C1.
  • Until the 1950s, piano keys were made of elephant tusks, today most piano keys are made of plastic to protect and preserve elephants.
  • The largest piano ever made measures 2,449m in width, 6,07m in length and 1,925m in height. it was built by Daniel Czapiewski (Poland) and played at a concert in Szymbark, Poland, on December 30, 2010.
  • Polish musician Romuald Koperski holds the record for the longest piano concerto to date: 103 hours and 8 seconds.
  • Portuguese musician Domingos-Antonio Gomes has proven to have the fastest fingers in the business. He broke the record after playing an incredible 824 times in one minute on the B7 button on a Yamaha CFX – that’s more than 13 hits per second!
  • The most expensive piano in the world was sold for as much as 3.22 million dollars. It is made of real crystal. It was designed by Heintzman & Co. It was only played in public once at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and then sold at auction. Our Plexiglas Schimmel is one of the jewels of our collection, otherwise it is not made of crystal, but of plexiglass. With its own lighting and superior sound, it enriches many concerts or events.
  • According to many studies, learning the piano can improve a child’s language skills and overall academic achievement.

How to Celebrate Piano Day

Usually we would probably attend a piano concert, because this time the situation is a little different, today you can play a recording of your favorite concert or pianist. You can also organize a real home piano concert for your loved ones. If you do not have a Grand piano or Uprigt piano yet, we invite you to visit the Benton Piano Salon, where we will be happy to help you choose the perfect one for you.

P.S .: On social media, you can let your followers know that today is Piano Day with the hashtag #worldpianoday and #salon_klavirjev_benton