Pure sound comparison: Fazioli vs. Erard grand piano

[@intervibist]

The Erard is an amazing instrument. Astonishingly robust despite its age. To our 21st century ears, it is fully mature and powerful in sound, while displaying the warmth of a late 19th century piano. Loved it!

[@oliveemilwetter8387]

@@intervibist Thank you so much for your valuable opinion! 😊

[@CharlesLangSamuel]

Extremely valuable study! So much more similar than many would assume!

[@oliveemilwetter8387]

Thank you so much!

[@hansroemerszoonvanderbrikk7626]

The Erard was more modern than we might think, Fazioli is more commited into keeping the 19th century warmth into its sound whilst making it as performing as the modren times requires than we might think 😉

[@oliveemilwetter8387]

Thank you for this very interesting point of view!

[@ihvoron3138]

Thank you for your great study and comparison. I listened in headphones and my impression is that Erard piano was positioned little closer to microphones than Fazioli (it's just my listening impression, probably Fazioli recording had picked up more walls sound reflections and Erard was giving more direct sound) Erard sounded more "stereo" with nice mid section details. Fazioli was almost always "mono" (due to different position in the room?). Fazioli was much better to my ears, with warmer rounded sound, lower mids and lows much fuller. Erard's upper section notes decayed faster than Fazioli's so Fazioli "singing lines" were better.

[@oliveemilwetter8387]

Wow, thanks a lot for having listened to it so carefully, and for your interesting observations! I had measured the distances making sure that both pianos were the same distance from the microphones. I think the distance therefore can't explain what you heard. What comes to my mind is that the Erard is longer than the Fazioli, with the microphones positioned in one point. This means that the Erard with the longer strings reaching out further to the left and right of the microphones might create more stereo impressions. Plus, it is straight strung, therefore the registers probably mix less (?) than in the Fazioli. The Fazioli is somewhat shorter and is cross-strung, probably creating more mixing of the sound? I share your opinion that the sound decays faster on the Erard, and it’s also more transparent. I found out that this allows me to follow the original pedal indications given by composers (who composed on such or earlier pianos), whereas on modern pianos, excatly following these indications often leads to a blurred sound and I have to reduce pedal usage.

[@PrebenH.Andersen]

I completely agree

[@jbr8559]

What is the Brahms excerpt please?

[@oliveemilwetter8387]

It’s my favorite bit of the 3rd sonata, last movement 😉. Incredibly deep and powerful music, isn’t it?

[@jbr8559]

@@oliveemilwetter8387 It is indeed!

[@YangCalgary]

Very interesting. Same person tuning and voicing as well?

[@oliveemilwetter8387]

Thanks a lot! No, it wasn’t done by the same technician. (But will be in the future.)

[@francescopiotroiano3078]

Sarebbe interessante ascoltarli con un'intonazione meno brillante: così risultano un po' aspri per quell'ambiente e non si riescono ad apprezzare bene.

[@saveriosalerno9232]

G R A Z I E!

[@oliveemilwetter8387]

Prego, e saluti da Zurigo 😊

[@jorgeandrade20]

1886 with 88 keys? Interesting!

[@oliveemilwetter8387]

@@jorgeandrade20 yes, exactly. Well spotted 😉

[@PrebenH.Andersen]

Fazioli has a far more beautiful and pleasant sound than Erard, which has a slightly metallic sound when played strongly. The room is not good to any of the two grand pianos - the acoustics are too harsh. I have heard Fazioli several times before, but this one has not a good sound - it is more hard than Fazioli use to have. Of the two pianos, Fazioli has the most beautiful sound in the deep tones - Erard's deep sound easily turns into noise instead of sound. Brahms was fantastic on Fazioli - but almost a disaster on Erard

[@oliveemilwetter8387]

Thank you very much for your interesting observations and comments!

[@AdeBELCIER]

ERARD !!!!!! THE BEST PIANOS FOREVER

[@oliveemilwetter8387]

@@AdeBELCIER Thank you

[@eroscristini9706]

Erard forever ❤

[@oliveemilwetter8387]

@@eroscristini9706 yes, I‘m a fan too! 👍

[@PrebenH.Andersen]

No - there is more noise than music from Erard. Perhaps there is a good reason why other pianos have taken over

[@oliveemilwetter8387]

@@PrebenH.Andersen Yes, for sure things have changed between centuries and epochs