Recently I happened to practice for a certain period on an antique piano, a late nineteenth-century Pleyel upright restored in the early 2000s,
despite a series of rather evident "limitations" of the instrument, foremost being the poor tuning stability, the limited dynamic range, a timbre similar to a fortepiano, weak bass, difficulty playing inside the keys due to their slightly (but perceptibly) smaller dimensions compared to current ones, etc.. I must say it was an interesting and at times surprising experience.. I often had the sensation of playing on an extraordinarily "alive," responsive, human instrument.. as if accents, breaths, intentions, one's own musical thought materialized with ease and fluidity. In comparison, modern pianos, despite their more advanced technology, sometimes appear to me more anonymous, colder, less "human"...
What do you think?