The KAWAI "EX" concert grand piano

[Lance]

I've been listening of late to recordings issued by Pro Piano in New York, who are famous for supplying outstanding German and New York made Steinway concert grand for performing artists. They also deal in Kawai and Yamaha pianos. Their tuner/technician is Ricard de la Rosa, who is well known for operating his outstanding organization on the East- and West coasts. Pro Piano has also been issuing a number of recordings made on their pianos either at the Pro Piano Hall on Jane Street in New York, or at the Academy of Arts & Letters.

Their "EX" concert grand is among the best pianos I've heard on recordings ... even across the spectrum, huge, rich bass, and a very clear, singing treble. Kawai seems to have made some huge in-roads with their concert pianos to the point where many are selecting the instrument for concerts and recordings. As a concert piano technician myself, and hearing complaints about some of the best-known pianos, especially in the last 10 years, Kawai has been doing substantial research and development in the art of building pianos. Based on some of these recordings, I would say that are making outstanding progress.

Anybody else observed this?

[Werner]

I don't remember ever coming across a Kawai concert grand in peformance. I do know that when Bruce Hungerford was in Europe (ca.1958-1968) he played some Kawais and spoke well of them then. And to go by your post, they must have made strides since then.

I do remember mentioning to you that Frederick Moyer's latest CD was recorded on a Kawai (I do't know whether it came from ProPiano) and it struck me as quite wonderful.

Do I remember that there is one of these around your neck of the woods?

[Ralph]

I don't remember ever seeing a KAWAI at a concert either.

[Haydnseek]

The only time I noticed a Kawai in a live performance was a concert by Awadagin Pratt with the Baltimore Symphony. The piano sounded different from normal and then I spotted the Kawai label.

Those ProPiano CDs are brilliantly recorded, aren't they? My favorites so far are probably Anton Kuerti's Brahms, Esther Budiardjo's Godowsky, and Sergei Babayan's Scarlatti discs.

[daycart]

Interesting!
I have a number of ProPiano recordings by Michel Block and Chitose Okashiro, and a couple of others too. I find the sound to be very brittle and tinny. The piano on these is a Hamburg Steinway.
I'd like to hear the Kuerti Brahms!