Sempach. District of Luzern. Switzerland. According to an article in the Sempacher Weekly the decision to renew the performance piano for the Sempach Conservatory boiled down to two choices: A Sauter Omega or its size equivalent a Steinway B from Germany. The decision was not an easy one according to Jovita Tuor, head of the well endowed institution  that serves one of the most culturally interested communities in Switzerland. It was, according to the article, a decision between a classic Jaguar and a Rolls Royce. Both are excellent, both are noble instruments.

In the end the Sempach Music Conservatory decided in favor of the Sauter Omega. The instrument arrived in style and was inaugurated by outstanding students of the Conservatory. After several Mozart pieces the Mrs. Tuor approached the young performing pianist and challenged him.”What do you think, has Mozart shown us all that this instrument can do?” Mr. Ducomman got the hint and added a thrilling performance of Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody 6 which was an ecstatic culmination of the of the evening.

Source: Sempacher Woche/ Surseer Woche, Switzerland

How do we raise the quality of our piano program? This is  a key question to many Collegiate teaching professionals across the country. One important answer is found in a unique and groundbreaking program developed by Florida State University in Tallahasee, Florida that should have implications for schools across the country: namely, to provide an accredited training opportunity for those who care for piano instrument parks at colleges and universities. And there is an even more exciting aspect: in an industry that is predominantly male, the driver behind this program is a woman, and mastertechnician: Anne Garee.

Mrs. Anne Garee grew up in a home where both arts and science were enmeshed. Her father was a physicist while her mother was a professional musician who had graduated from the famous Oberlin Music Conservatory. Anne followed the path of her mother and graduated in piano- however, she also intensified her studies and became a piano technician.  She was then offered a position with Florida State University. Being uniquely qualified to understand the needs of pianists and educators as well as relating the technical aspects of piano service she started to develop a formal degree granting program at FSU. Graduates of FSU Piano Technology program are superbly qualified to maintain and manage a large school’s piano park in all aspects.

 We, at Sauter, are deeply impressed with what Anne has accomplished. The embedded video provides furhter insight into the program.

Internet address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpBnlRMklPA

The most prestigious cultural and architectonic project of the last decade in Europe will be presented on April 12 to the general public: the New Oslo Opera. Located in Bjorvika the opera house is integrated into the harbour with stunning architectural audicity and perfect harmony. Renowned architecture firm Snøhetta designed the building after winning an international contest in 2000. The building area is 38,500 square meters and the building consists of more than 100 rooms.

Little has been left to chance. In addition to the first tunes  performed by the Norwegian Opera  while construction was still  ongoing to ensure acoustic viability of all halls, and dancers from the National Ballet testing floors to ensure optimal materials for the pirouettes and jumps, a team of musician and piano performers was sent across Europe with one goal in mind: to  hand-select the finest instruments to be found in Europe for the Opera.

The group traversed Europe and visited the factories of the most prestigious piano-makers. It sounds like a fairy-tale and we at Sauter were surprised at the tenacity, ressources and demands that the selection team had set. We were glad that such a high profile group would engage in a comparative analysis of manufacturers in both craftsmanship and usability for institutional needs as well as have rigorous ideas about the musicality and tonal flexibility of the instruments. As far as we know, no other institution had gone to these efforts and no other public or private funded enterprise had put the integrity of the project above any budgetary considerations. Thus it was with a certain kind of eagerness that we anticipated the decision of the New Oslo Opera.

Just briefly, before the Frankurt Musik Fair (the world’s largest music instruments fair) the New Oslo Opera remitted their requests and ordered 9 Grand Sauter Grand Pianos. The total purchase included 16 Grand Pianos. The Opera had also found fine instruments at Bosendorfer (2), at Roenisch (3), at Steingraeber (1) and at Steinway Hamburg (1).  In addition to Grand Pianos the New Oslo Opera also ordered 4 Sauter Uprights (Modell 122), along with  7 Petrof Uprights, and 4 Schimmel Uprights.

Andreas Bieder, Sales Manager for Northern Europe at Sauter Piano Company, was himself taken by surprise: “We knew that it would be a very tough field to compete in. And especially, since our instruments are valued significantly above some of our German colleagues , we did not allow our hopes to fly to high. My gratitude goes to our factory who is ultimately responsible for the consistency and quality of our instruments. The decision by the New Oslo Opera seems to reflect the general sentiment both in Asia as well as in Europe and the United States that Sauter Grand Pianos are a cut above the rest.”

Notes:

http://www.snoarc.no/#/projects/15/false/all/

www.operaen.no

Singen, Germany. The main focus of Hegau Gymnasium is to provide its students an integrative and well-rounded educational experience in preparation for university. Thus, music is a vital part of the curriculum and emphasis is placed to provide the finest tools available. The school had utilized a Steinway B grand piano which had been provided by the city government. The time came to replace the instrument. The school officials wanted to find something equal or better to the beautiful instrument they had used. Sauter Piano was considered along with other manufacturers of highest quality.

The school was looking not only for a beautiful sound but also for an instrument that could handle intensive daily use for many years to come. Given that instrument would be used also by younger children there was an expressed desire for a very light and responsive action. Finally,  the instrument would serve for the school’s recitals with 150-300 parents present and school officials wanted a grand piano with adquate projection power.

Part of the decision making process included also a visit to the Sauter Factory where the professors were provided with a private tour guided by the Head of Production, Matthias Jansch, and had the possibility to play among several instruments. Despite very extracting comparisons with the  two other  major German  manufacturers the School decided to purchase a Sauter semi-concert grand, the Omega 220.

Links:

http://www.hg.kn.bw.schule.de/