Adlam Burnett reproduction Heilmann Viennese Fortepiano
Made for us in 1978, this lovely copy of a Heilmann fortepiano of 1785 by Derek Adlam is probably the most frequently-heard fortepiano anywhere in the UK, having done innumerable seasons for Glyndebourne, Glyndebourne Touring Opera, Garsington, Grange Park Opera, English National Opera, The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and literally dozens of Haydn ‘Creation’ and ‘The Seasons’ performances at venues from small local churches to the Royal Albert Hall (including a memorable performance early in this summer’s Proms season of ‘The Seasons’ performed by The Handel & Haydn Society of Boston, conducted by Roger Norrington.)
This is as fine an example of a Viennese fortepiano as anything made at the time or recently, having a five-octave compass with sustain, felt-damped “soft pedal” and the strange, clanky ‘jangle’ sound of the curios ‘Fagotti’ stop; all of which are worked by knee-levers. The touch is (to the first-time player) unbelievably light and the depth of touch unbelievably shallow, which helps to explain how Beethoven could have thought to put those octave glissandi into the last movement of his first piano concerto! On this instrument one can actually play them without ripping the skin off one’s fingers!
Most of the instrument is double-strung although the top fourteen keys are triple-strung.
The instrument is quite happy at A=440 (it’s even been as high as A=443 and doesn’t seem to mind) or down at A=430 or even lower.
Hire fees start at £150.00 per day plus delivery and collection and tuning and standby.
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