I was in Las Vegas about 30 years ago and saw Liberace’s piano covered entirely in sequins. I think I prefer this one.

I feel transported back in time, like I’m actually hearing some of Chopin’s music how he would have played it!

I saw Chopins upright Pleijel in the monastery where he lived with George Sand high on Majorca and wished I could have heard it played. Now I have heard the grand version and wish I could hear his work exclusively on this glorious instrument . I prefer it to the albeit magnificent Steinway and congratulations to this superb pianist.

Yet another lovely concert. Thank you, Alec and family for sharing your wonderful collection with the world. I did miss Alec's usual informative introduction to the instrument, though. With greetings from Aotearoa.

What a amazing programme, well chosen pieces that showcased the full range of the piano

This piano sounds like it's tuned almost a quarter tone lower than modern pianos. Did they not use A=440 in Chopin's time?

❤Chopin❤

Can I hear the distinctive Viennese twang which influences this instrument or is that my imagination? Thank you for another wonderful experience.

Kia ora. The detail and authenticity of your presentations shows the depth of your passion for these instruments. Thank you, Mr Cobb, for the resources, time and dedication you put into ensuring that we can enjoy these very special experiences from the other side of the world. And thank you to Alexander for such a wonderful performance. Ngā mihi nui.

To me, the mellow sound of this piano replaces the fire we usually hear from modern instruments with a nuanced grandeur which can never be replicated on a modern piano.

Too many wrong notes, but at least, we can hear the sound of Chopin's piano. Next time you could invite Volodos, Hamelin, or Evgeny Kissin to play. They would be honored by the invitation. 🎉❤❤❤

They should have fine tuned the piano first, and put professional studio microphones on the piano. So, it would be historical. 🎉❤

OMG can't wait to listen to this !

Wait I'm confused, IS THIS CHOPINS PIANO or the brand he played on?

How beautifully you play Mozart’s lovely music Nathaniel! And what a treat to hear it played on this wonderful instrument. Thank you for this charming (and very tasteful 😅) concert.

bravo!

Discovered this video today. Couldn’t describe how much my heart and all of cells are thrilled when hearing Chopin’s own piano and his music being brought back to life. A huge thank you to the Cobbe Collection. ❤❤❤

Mind candy

Absolutely fantastic! Chopin's music deserves to be heard on the instrument it was intended to be played on, sure--but, hearing it on Chopin's own instrument is an incredible treat all on its own.

40:28 Why got a big plate cover the top of string? What is the purpose?

Just amazing

Let me quote @mabdub comment and my answer @japiat1520 . @mabdub There is a private, internationally known piano builder by the name of Paul McNulty, who produces near flawless period piano replicas of famous composer's pianos. Info about him is on the Net. I think he now lives in Czechoslovakia with his wife Viviana Sofronitsky, who is a famous Russian Canadian concert pianist. A few years ago he built a replica of Chopin's Pleyel and I heard it demonstrated by Viviana in a few of his videos. To my ear the sound of his replica is remarkably like that of Chopin's Pleyel which is in the Cobbe collection. I was astonished by the similarity of the sounds of the two pianos which are so far apart in actual age. It would appear that the sound of Chopin's Cobbe/ Pleyel is very close to the actual sound which Chopin heard when he chose the piano in 1848. It seems that the sound of a superior piano does not diminish all that significantly over a long period of time if the instrument is treated well and clearly, the one in the Cobbe collection has been well cared for. Also, I used to think that the colouring of the sound of the Cobbe piano was because of the age of the piano but it seems as though that too is not the case. Apparently, the varying timbres of different sections of the keyboard was intentionally created by Pleyel and that's why Chopin liked and preferred Pleyel instruments. It makes one realize just how much character has been lost in the process of refining the evenly balanced sound of modern pianos. The Chopin Society in Warsaw uses a replica made by Paul McNulty for their period piano competitions. @japiat1520 down @mabdub . I am extremely pleased with your comment, which describes what Chopin's Pleyer actually sounded like in the past and today. My thoughts and conclusions that I came to were exactly confirmed by your actual confirmed evidence. And yet I had to take into account many factors, such as the age of the instrument, the soundboard, the strings in the bass, the diameter then probably without a cast steel winding, later with a brass winding, and in the duscant without a braid and their pressure, the bridge, a strong wooden skeleton, the entire body of the instrument, the entire mechanics hammer, felt hammers and silencers. These are very discreet and subtle factors, but they influence the timbre and sound of the sound. In previous comments I argued that all this had no significant impact on the current sound of this instrument. So we can imagine that it is very similar to the piano from Chopin's times. Only the repetition and the escapement of the hammer mechanism have deteriorated, but this affects the technical and performance capabilities of the pianist. To a large extent, this can be remedied by renovation and correction - adjustment of the mechanism, but only 75%, I guess. Our pianist handled it flawlessly in a masterly, even virtuoso, way. bringing us closer to the sound and technical capabilities of this wonderful, beautifully crafted historical favorite of Chopin's piano. Thank you @mabdub very much for your wonderful comment and statements supported by specifics, confirming my belief that I had the right train of thought. Thank you very much once again and greetings, Piotr from Warsaw

To @Pingoping You're not entirely right... The sound of a piano is determined primarily by its resonance elements. Firstly, the soundboard and the frame on which it is mounted, and indirectly the body of the instrument itself and even the repeater mechanism. These elements remain the same, so the sound will be almost identical. The age of the instrument certainly affects its lower technical and dynamic capabilities, i.e. the playing itself. Strings influence the sound, timbre, but above all, the soundboard. The strings are not necessarily replaceable as they are strong and durable. Unless the original tuning was Viennese, a semitone lower, and has now been tuned a semitone higher. The pressure of the strings on the record would be greater, but it would not significantly affect the timbre of the sound. We can assume that we hear sounds - an instrument, just like back then. Currently, there would be a problem with the technical possibilities of the game - because it is an old mechanic - although the proofreaders certainly did a great job. Great recognition is due to the pianist who rose to the challenge and in a virtuoso way demonstrated the technical and sound capabilities of this valued instrument. We could imagine and hear how Chopin himself once played and composed. Thank you Piotr from Poland

..to hear Chopin's music on his favourite piano es simply exquisite Hearing this it is easily to hear why her preferred Pleyel; over Erards. Broadwoods, and other pianos of hte day. Such a very well balanced and rich chorus with a profound yet not overwhelming bass as in modern day instruments. Hid music literally sings here. Thank you for this recording.

This has been a really extraordinary concert, what a wonderful selection of pieces and well performed by this perfect pianist. My sincere gratitude

This is one of the most magnificent presents we can hear online, we are listening the sound that heard Chopin too when playing his own composition in his own piano! and what a great selection of pieces he chose to play! My sincere gratitude for this, I love it 💜

It’s actually crazy to hear Barcarolle from *the piano on which Chopin wrote it.* Thank you so much.

This piano sounds rather dull. I hope Cobbe has giving the piano its deserved maintenance.

Some of the keys are not even level with the rest... the piano is in miserable condition.

What a treat this is! So glad I came across this video as I can't believe this is the first time I'm seeing this ❤

Aaaand now I'm planning a trip to the UK specifically to visit this magical place...

Full marks to the piano and the pianist whose reproduction of Chopin on Chopin was complete.Thankyou.!

A romantic concert vibrating Frederick Chopin's charm Great to witness.❤

The most notable quality of the sound of these pianos is the lack of sustain, particularly in the treble, compared to the modern fully evolved piano. The early piano composers like Chopin were hearing the future of the instrument while they were composing in the past. Still quite lovely, a kind of music box sound.

Exquisite.

Wonderful! I've a Pleyel model F 1930. This piano has a second sounboard over the strings? Or instead it's only an acrilic protection? Thanks!

Such an interesting idea as to how music sounded in past days. Nicely done, but I think the sustain and the richness would both have been greater on a new piano back then. Either that or this has not recorded terribly well?

WHY DO NEARLY ALL 19TH CENTURY PIANOS SOUND OUT OF TUNE.. ARE THEY JUST TOO OLD? BECAUSE 18TH CENTURY MOZART PIANOS DO NOT HAVE THIS DEFECT.

Classic mistake of the average pianist, puts half the music in uncessary circling body movements and creates a poor sound and music.

Anybody with eyes and artistic ears can tell that 19th century pianos were much better than they are now. Why is the diktat of steinway with their ugly black and over tension strung pianos continuing ? And then look at the wood on this piano, gosh how splendid and do not tell me there is no wood available i see tons of hundred + years old hardwood left to rot often after being cut by men in north carolina forests. There just is no sawmill to make timber anymore. It's the system, the corruption of the "free market" that has destroyed the beautiful way things were done in the past. One thing in particular the printing of fiat money is responsible for societies putting priorities on destructive projects and companies instead of money being limited and backed by real ressources and real work, farmer's produce, artisan's work should be the most valuable things in society, not biotech false drugs and false vaccines.

So does it mean the type of the sounds generated by the modern concert grands were not the ones Chopin intended initially?

dang it why does this only have 54k views? this is chopin's actual pleyel with his own music being played on it!

Sounds delightful

Arcydzieło, rewelacja ! Chopinie, geniuszu ❤️

Such an old audience. Also this new trend of the pianist having to present the piece with words is preposterous. This is about music, not music history.

Thank you! I heard so many nuances and had new insights from this amazing concert! Thank you!!

Very emotional to hear this! Thank you very much!!

Though the pianist is talented, he lacks experience on such a piano as he trades sound for speed. The frequent pedaling and the lack of it is just proof of how he is using this piano like he would use a modern one - clipping sound to separate each note. On the contrary, such a piano, when tuned and voiced well, should be played craftily at a slower speed to blend in harmonies and not chop the music into notes. It takes years of study solely on this instrument to bring out what it can achieve. Besides, there are other factors that are diminishing the authenticity of the sound. I urge the listener to visit my channel for me to illustrate this further. Nevertheless, one can only be grateful that such concerts are published.

Great composer, but never heard his wonderful music on modern piano...

Its amazing how pianos have evolved since then. It reminds me of an old saloon piano in sound