.....luigi Borgato...who is this guy?

Hi Saverio,

Luigi Borgato is an Italian piano maker. Just a couple of days ago, I listened to a concert by a Maestro who knows Luigi Borgato well, described by him as a very competent man and person, and he suggested that I attend some of his meetings starting from the 21st of August. We will ask Mr. Borgato if it is possible to obtain an interview.

The Borgato company consists of only 3 members: Mr. and Mrs. Borgato and one artisan. Borgato pianos are built entirely by hand. If I remember correctly, on average the factory manages to produce about 2 - 3 pianos per year. Only Grand Concert Pianos are produced. Borgato is the only company in the world that produces acoustic pianos with a double soundboard pedalboard. One for the piano placed high up and one for the pedalboard below. In fact, there are many compositions for piano that also involve the use of the pedalboard as a sort of basso continuo. The peculiarity of this piano would thus give rise to a new figure halfway between a pianist and an organist. Pianists, in fact, do not have the study of the pedalboard which organists do, but organists have problems with dynamics, which pianists do have. Unlike the organ, where the organist operates the pedalboard and the sound produced is generated by an airflow through the instrument's pipes, in the double Borgato, the pedalboard is built with the same construction standards as a piano; therefore, it remains a percussion instrument in which it is possible to express dynamics, something extremely difficult to execute in order to "make the instrument sing." In this regard, I remember a very rare interview that Vladimir Horowitz gave during a visit to Italy on Canale 5, if I am not mistaken. He was asked: "Maestro, what is the most important thing for expressing one's feelings at the piano?" The Maestro replied: "Making the instrument sing. Singing, that is the most important thing! Managing to legato. Do not forget that it is a percussion instrument, so managing to make it sing is the most difficult thing; otherwise, you listen to the same thing for 15 minutes. Today many young people play like this, like machines; the technique is good, but it is not enough. The name of the instrument is Pianoforte (soft-loud), one must play piano, forte, but also everything in between—that is control. Like what is happening now in America: the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and those in the middle have to struggle."

I confirm TheSimon's concise response.

Borgato holds several patents, including the one from 1991 relating to four strings in the upper register (44 keys) and an innovative frame.

Borgato also holds the patent for the Doppio Borgato, which consists of a Grand Piano and a pedalboard with 77 pedals.

Like the much too vilified PianoExpert, he belongs to the cursed progeny of skilled tuners (you know, those who make you feel like a nobody because they hear a hundredth of a semitone and you barely notice a tenth!).

Just to illustrate for you the concept expressed by TheSimon regarding composition that can be performed on a piano with (piano) pedal, here are Robert Schumann's '6 Studien fur den Pedal-Flugel' - in the edition curated by his wife.

Among others, Charlemagne Palestine and Ennio Morricone have composed for the Doppio Borgato.

Bye

You are all becoming too EXPERT now. I must learn from you!!!!!!

P.S. ...Gennarì, I bet even you can hear a hundredth of a semitone!!!

P.P.S. Thank you for the precious answers, useful to me as well!!!!!!

P.P.P.S. ....Anyway, thanks for the compliments......they are pleasing to everyone!!!!!!!!

I am officially informing you that from August 22nd we will have the pleasure of meeting Luigi Borgato, who will hold a lecture on piano construction techniques. We are also trying to establish a partnership between our site and Maestro Borgato's site, whom I contacted just today on his mobile number. An exquisite and very helpful person who immediately proved to be friendly towards us.

Replicate people!

Well done: let's hope in the future to have more and more contact with the companies that build pianos: this is already remarkable! Congratulations, I can't wait to see the interview!

Now this is a beautiful thing .....finally being able to see and hear an Italian Maestro tell us about the birth of his PIANO and (perhaps, for those sick like me) having one more opportunity to know and understand this extraordinary instrument that is the piano.

THANK YOU to all of you my friends!!

Warmest greetings

saverio

Wow... What a beautiful opportunity! I hope for the interview too!

I had already heard of Luigi Borgato and his particular piano... But I didn't know that the company produced only two or three pianos a year... Being handmade, the times probably become this much... With significant positive aspects regarding quality, I imagine! The subject deserves to be discussed... The manufacturing times (and especially the methods) of a piano would perhaps convey the idea of the uniqueness of a handmade instrument... Knowing the 1903 HANDMADE Bechstein, I know the quality of the result...

See you soon! Bye.

Hello everyone, I am writing to you because I know Mr. Borgato and I have had the pleasure and honor of using his instruments for various concerts. Now, regardless of Luigi's great technical and musical culture, I can assure you that his pianos are true jewels; they allow for incredible sonorities (screaming pianissimos...). Clearly expensive, because they are made entirely by hand, they also feature interesting innovations, including four strings instead of three. Last week I attended a three-day course of his on piano construction and maintenance, and the passion originating from that experience pushed me to search for related topics on the internet and consequently discover this beautiful forum. Massimo.

Hi Massimo, I also tried the Borgato piano, and I was very impressed. Luigi dedicates himself with great passion to keeping the concert piano in excellent working condition, both in terms of mechanics and tuning/intonation. A very easy keyboard that helps and even stimulates rhythmic equality even in the most difficult passages. Always optimally intonated and tuned. A beautiful timbre, great sonority that does not struggle at all to fill the room, very balanced, beautiful full basses and a middle-high register that is always full; in short, a truly beautiful piano and he is a wonderful person.

Hello,

I also bring my experience, the Doppio is something unique. Indescribable. A work of art. An incredible result that Maestro Borgato managed to achieve with manic care and study of every single component is the versatility of the instrument. The pianissimos are sweet, delicate but at the same time full-bodied. The fortissimos are powerful, imposing, intense. To be clear, this instrument allows the pianist to express themselves at their best both in a 5x5 room and in a large theater.

A world-class excellence, all Italian, Bravo Borgato!