IT took Shenton Park resident and concert pianist Mark Coughlan a day’s work in Venice choosing the expensive Fazioli piano that now resides at Perth’s St George’s Cathedral.
The piano, which costs about $300,000, was gifted to the cathedral by Zenith Music, in celebration of its 50th anniversary this year.
WA Symphony Orchestra chief executive Mr Coughlan visited Venice in February 2018 with freelance piano technician Paul Tunzi and spent a day playing pianos, and eliminating one after the other, until they found the perfect one for the cathedral.
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READ NOWThe piano was installed in 2018 and has since been played and fine-tuned.
“The thing about being a pianist is you have to play on the piano you find in the venue so I think it was a wonderful thing when St Georges had the opportunity to upgrade their old piano into this state of the art instrument,” Mr Coughlan said.
It takes two years to produce one Fazioli piano, hand-crafted in Italy with obsessive attention to detail.
Mr Coughlan will launch the piano at the Moonlight in the Cathedral recital on May 10, part of the St George’s Concert Series.
He will play Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight’ Sonata, Bach’s Chaconne arranged by Busoni and Schubert’s Impromptus on the Fazioli piano.
The Essentials
WHAT: Moonlight in the Cathedral.
WHEN: From 7.30pm to 9.15pm on May 10. 20 minute interval.
WHERE: St George’s Cathedral, Perth.
TICKETS: To purchase tickets go to https://bit.ly/2ULGX1B.