DENVER — There's a new star on the Boettcher Concert Hall stage.
The Colorado Symphony unveiled its brand new concert grand piano on Tuesday.
Crafted by Steinway & Sons, the instrument will make its debut from Friday to Sunday during the symphony's season-opening weekend.
Colorado Symphony said its previous piano reached the ends of its distinguished career, prompting the search for a worthy successor. Concert pianos typically last 20 years.
The journey to acquire the new piano began months ago with a visit to the Steinway factory in Queens, New York, to select the perfect instrument. Steinway & Sons crafted and customized this piano to meet the Colorado Symphony's standards.
Steinway & Sons prepared three pianos for the full symphony contingent to evaluate. Concert pianist Natasha Paremski and Cuban American pianist Horacio Gutiérrez assisted as the team assessed each piano's strengths and weaknesses.
The Colorado Symphony said a consensus emerged around one piano, "distinguished by its resonant bass, sustained treble, and powerful yet beautiful middle range."
Phil Beaver, a professor at the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver and longtime Colorado Symphony supporter, funded the purchase of the new piano.
"It was such a thrill to take part in the selection process with [Principal Conductor] Peter [Oundjian] and [Chief Artistic Officer] Tony [Pierce]," Beaver said. "Natasha described this piano as a ‘unicorn,’ and I have to agree — it’s the finest instrument I’ve ever played."
"This piano is not just an instrument; it’s a work of art," said Colorado Symphony Principal Conductor Peter Oundjian. "It will enable our musicians and visiting guest artists to explore greater depths of expression and deliver live performances that resonate even more deeply with our audiences."
"Our selection process was rigorous," said Oundjian. "We were looking for a piano that would complement our orchestra’s sound and enhance the acoustics of Boettcher Concert Hall. This instrument surpassed all our expectations."
"This piano is a testament to our commitment to artistic excellence," said Mark Cantrell, President & CEO of the Colorado Symphony. "It’s an investment in our future and in the cultural vitality of our community. We can't wait for our audiences to experience the magic this piano will bring to our performances."
"This is a momentous occasion for us," said Oundjian. "We are thrilled to share this extraordinary instrument with our audiences and to explore the new dimensions of performance it will unveil. It’s a new chapter in our history and we can’t wait to see where it takes us."
