As with anything in life, it is difficult to define what is “best”. When it comes to pianos, every individual has their own preferences and requirements, so the best piano for a concert pianist will vary greatly to the best piano for someone enjoying playing in their home.
Whilst the preference for a specific tone, sound, and style of a piano will differ for every person, there are certain piano brands of such exceptional quality that offer models to suit almost every personal preference and taste.
Below we have picked out seven European piano brands that craft exceptional handmade pianos and that we believe offer excellence in every area. They are certainly worth exploring if you are in the market for a quality upright or grand piano, whether for professional or leisure use.
All these manufacturers are specialists in manufacturing high-quality handmade pianos, many of which can take over a year to produce. From the casting of the piano harp, essential to create a great tone, to the action, the strings, the felts, the pinblock and the soundboard, all materials are of the highest specification and quality and assembled by expert craftsmen.
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Steinway & Sons
Steinway & Sons is renowned worldwide due to its high quality and innovation, as well as its active involvement in the classical piano world. Steinway & Sons partners with hundreds of concert pianists and concert halls.
Founded originally in Germany by Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg, Steinway & Sons forged its success in piano manufacturing when Steinweg moved to New York with his family in 1853.
Steinway & Sons now build pianos in both Hamburg and New York.
The modern grand piano as we know it today owes so much to the many technical design innovations that Steinway & Sons has patented over the years. This has led to the company winning many awards globally and becoming the dominant brand in the world’s concert hall over the last 150 years. The quality and craftmanship seen in the full concert grands is also evident throughout the entire range of smaller grand pianos and uprights.
“For me there is only one instrument that has always been my home, that’s the Steinway. The 88 keys from a Steinway have given worlds to explore, sounds to discover, and emotions to release – together with Steinway I am on an everlasting journey.”
Cyrill Ibrahim, Concert Pianist
Client playing a Steinway & Sons grand piano at Coach House Pianos’ Swansea Showroom
Bösendorfer
Austria’s sole remaining piano maker, Bösendorfer has been at the heart of Vienna’s cultural scene since 1828 when Ignaz Bösendorfer was officially granted the right to become a member of the prestigious Austrian instrument manufacturers guild.
Passionate about the craft of piano making, Bösendorfer constructs its pianos using Austrian spruce, harvested in winter, and left to dry naturally, meaning that a Bösendorfer piano takes 6 years to complete. The tone of a Bösendorfer piano is synonymous with the famous ‘Viennese sound’ which inspired composers such as Mozart, Schubert, Brahms, Liszt, and Mahler. With the predominant use of spruce tone-wood in the construction of its pianos, Bösendorfer developed what it calls the ‘resonating case principle’, where every part of the piano is contributing to the resonance and subsequent tone. This is a design characteristic often more associated with the finest violins, violas and ‘cellos.
Bösendorfer is famous for creating the Imperial Grand piano, a 97 key keyboard, giving the piano 8 octaves. The addition of the extra keys and strings gives it a unique tone that inspired Busoni and Bartok, and in more recent years artists such as Tori Amos, Leonard Bernstein, Oscar Peterson and Alexandra Silocea.
“The piano has been with me since 1994. She’s a Bösendorfer, a black beauty. I take her and another with me whenever I’m on tour”.
Tori Amos
Alexandra Silocea standing by Bösendorfer Tree of Life grand piano available at Coach House Pianos
Sauter
Founded in 1819 in the Black Forest in South-West Germany by Johann Grimm, Sauter is the world’s oldest manufacturer of pianos still in business today, with over 200 years of experience in building premium pianos.
Grimm honed his craft throughout Europe in the early 19th century by assisting in making pianos for some of the great composers, such as Beethoven and Mozart. When he returned to his home in Germany in 1819, he set up his own factory building pianos of his own under the name of Sauter. From the very start, attention to detail and the use of the finest German materials has been the key priority for the brand.
Sauter is perhaps best known for the patented ‘Double Repetition’ action, a feature found in its larger upright pianos that offers a similar touch response as a grand piano.
Arguably the most exciting and eye-catching pianos Sauter produces are those designed by the iconic designer Peter Maly. These modern works of art are as captivating and fresh in their aesthetic as they are in their sound. Sauter also creates exceptional wood finish cabinets, making them a brand of choice for key designers such as Kvadrat, who installed a Sauter in their iconic head office in Denmark.
“I found Sauter to be of the highest quality and equal to the ability of Bösendorfer and Steinway. A Sauter piano has a special, dark sound and a lot to discover. It doesn’t give everything away at once, but rewards dedication.”
Harriet Stubbs, Concert Pianist
Sauter grand piano purchased from Coach House Pianos by Kvadrat in Denmark
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Blüthner
In 1853, Julius Blüthner started his pianoforte factory and quickly became recognised as a manufacturer producing handmade instruments of exceptional technical and musical quality. Blüthner is a German piano brand marked by its resilience and adaptability, with the factory being destroyed during WWII, and rebuilt in 1948.
Blüthner is famous for its ‘Aliquot’ patent. This system was developed by Julius Blüthner over a 150 years ago. In the highest treble section of the grand pianos, each note is assigned a fourth string, which is slightly raised from the others and not struck by the hammerheads. The ‘aliquot’ string resonates in unison with the note played, amplifying it and creating Blüthner’s signature rich, warm and colourful sound.
Blüthner pianos have some interesting designs, both modern and more traditional.
“There are only two things which I took with me on my way to America…my wife and my precious Bluthner”.
Rachmaninov, Composer
Stunning Bluthner Hive Extravaganza grand piano
Bechstein
Bechstein began life in Berlin in 1853, later opening a London store in 1885. Queen Victoria’s purchase of a Bechstein grand piano greatly enhanced the brand’s popularity and growth, and the London store became the largest showroom in Europe. They went on to build Bechstein Hall, now known as Wigmore Hall.
Bechstein pianos are hand-built in the stunning Seifhennersdorf factory in Eastern Germany, using 100% German components which ensures quality control of every aspect of their pianos. The C. Bechstein upright and grand pianos are classical in style and designed with everyone in mind, striking the perfect balance between being compact, yet powerful.
“One should only write piano music for Bechstein”.
Claude Debussy, Composer
Beautiful Bechstein upright piano in rosewood with inlay
Steingraeber & Söhne
Another piano brand founded in Germany, Steingraeber & Söhne is known for unique features such as the Mozart Rail and Sordino. This enables a contemporary piano to sound like a pianoforte straight from Mozart’s era and creates the softest and fasted repetition notes on a modern instrument.
Another feature found in certain models is the carbon fibre soundboard, which is more resistant to changes in climate, making the concert and semi-concert pianos with this feature more suitable for outdoor events and festivals This is particularly relevant since Steingraeber & Söhne’s location of Bayreuth is the home of one of the world’s most prestigious music festivals and their pianos feature prominently in the festival’s events.
“Respecting a great tradition, and with an eye to the future, the Steingraeber & Söhne pianos are magnificent instruments. They are able to shape sound in relation to each repertoire. Pianos that are always trusted friends of those who play them”.
Roberto Carnevale – Composer, pianist and conductor
Mal Pope playing a Steingraeber & Söhne grand piano at an event at Coach House Pianos’ Swansea showroom
Fazioli
Founded by pianist and engineer, Paolo Fazioli, Fazioli are an Italian piano brand that have been hand-producing grand and concert grand pianos since 1981.
With a focus on music, craftsmanship and continuous technological research, Fazioli refuse to compromise on quality, and steer away from any industrial approach to manufacturing.
The factory is located in Sacile, in the Province of Pordenone (60km Northeast of Venice) in an area boasting an ancient tradition in the art of woodworking.
Fazioli has some extremely special models, with hand-painted reproductions and different veneers meaning you can really make a statement with one of their pianos.
“The Fazioli sound, much like Italian opera, is remarkable for its brightness and clarity.”
Paolo Fazioli
Faziloi grand piano on display at Coach House Pianos’ London showroom
All these famous brands, and more, can be found at Coach House Pianos. At our stunning London and Swansea showrooms we have an enviable inventory of upright and grand pianos that you can experience for yourself. Visit us to try a wide selection of pianos, comparing touch and tone and discovering which brand is best for you.
If you would like to learn more about different piano brands, purchasing a piano as an investment, or which piano would suit you best, please get in touch with our team of experts today.