Live recording from the recital at Hatchlands Park - July 2020

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THE PIANO

Chopin’s ‘Own’ Grand Piano, No. 13819, by Pleyel & Compagnie, Paris, 1848
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Pleyel pianos were Chopin’s instruments of choice from his arrival in Paris in 1831 until his death. While the firm normally lent Chopin any piano he wanted without charge, this was only provided they remained in France. The piano played in this recital, Pleyel No. 13819, is, however, one of two Pleyel pianos that Chopin had actually to pay for, because he wished in April 1848 to take it to England. He had already had it for some months in his home at Square d’Orléans, and had almost certainly used it for his public concert in the Salle Pleyel in February. Pleyel No. 13819 travelled with him to London and he slept his first few nights in a London lodging along with it still in its packing case. It was a source of considerable pleasure to him that in his drawing-room in his second London lodging, 48 Dover Street, there were three piano by the three dominant piano-makers of his era – Camille Pleyel, Pierre Erard and John Fowler Broadwood – all three of whom Chopin knew and who experienced his friendship, comments, praise or criticism. He made proud allusion to the three pianos in several of his letters, always referring to the Pleyel as ‘his own’.

The one other Pleyel instrument for which he had had to take financial responsibility, was the pianino he asked to be sent to Majorca for his celebrated sojourn there ten years earlier.

The making of Pleyel 13819 took a year, with it being finally varnished on 8th January 1848. By the 11th February it had been delivered to the composer. On it Chopin composed and performed some major works, including Barcarolle op. 60 and the Cello Sonata op. 65.

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