The institution is now the only one in the Canary Islands to own five Steinway & Sons pianos, enabling it to meet the highest artistic and performance standards.
The Auditorio de Tenerife has expanded its collection of musical instruments with the acquisition of three new Steinway & Sons grand pianos. These additions bring its collection of instruments by the prestigious manufacturer to five, making it the only institution in the Canary Islands to own such a collection. The investment will enable the Auditorio to meet the exacting requirements of internationally renowned pianists and provide outstanding performance conditions for concerts of the highest artistic calibre.
José Carlos Acha, Councillor for Culture, Museums and Sport at the Tenerife Island Council, explains that ‘the two existing pianos have been in use for more than 20 years, and the time had come to invest in new instruments so that the Auditorio can continue to host concerts of the highest standard’. He adds that ‘the three pianos arrived in Tenerife directly from the Steinway & Sons factory in Hamburg, Germany’.
The new instruments comprise two Steinway Model D-274 concert grand pianos and one Model C-227 grand piano. ‘The two concert grands will be used for major piano recitals and by soloists performing with symphony orchestras,’ explains Acha. ‘For performances requiring a more intimate sound, such as jazz concerts or programmes in which the piano has an accompanying role and less projection is needed, we will use the third instrument, the Model C-227.’
The pianos underwent rigorous testing at the factory to ensure that their tonal qualities and performance characteristics met the Auditorio’s requirements and were suited to the acoustics of its concert halls. Canarian pianists Gustavo Díaz-Jerez and Luis López travelled to Hamburg to evaluate the instruments and prepare a detailed assessment of their suitability. Their recommendations informed the final purchase decision, bringing to a close a complex acquisition process spanning two years. Following the instruments’ arrival at the Auditorio, a Steinway-accredited piano technician carried out the final tuning and adjustments in preparation for their first performances.
One of the distinctive features of Steinway & Sons grand pianos is the construction of their continuous bent rim, formed from 17 laminated layers of maple. This manufacturing technique creates a strong, rigid structure that contributes to the instrument’s acoustic properties and structural stability. The robust construction also helps maintain tuning stability, potentially reducing the frequency of tuning required for rehearsals, concert preparations and other activities.
One of the new grand pianos will make its concert debut on Tuesday 20 October at 7.30 pm in the Chamber Music Hall, during a recital by Ukrainian pianist Vadym Kholodenko. The programme features works by Beethoven, Lyatoshynsky and Liszt. The performance forms part of the Auditorio de Tenerife’s Chamber Music Series, which includes piano recitals each season and has already attracted 90 season-ticket holders.
Tickets, priced at 15 euros (5 euros for under-30s), can be purchased on the website www.auditoriodetenerife.com, at the box office from Monday to Friday between 10.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. and on Saturdays between 10.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m., and by telephone on 902 317 327 during the same hours. Discounts are available for, amongst others, students, jobseekers and large families.