The University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna is situated at the heart of European music and art. As a city renowned for its illustrious musicians like Mozart, Beethoven, Schoenberg, and many others, Vienna’s music school strives for excellence in all its activities and programs.
To this end, the Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Wien (MDW) sought to acquire top-quality instruments for its students in 2023. The University needed three performance-level pianos: one for piano solo performances, another for art song interpretation as an accompanying piano, and a third for pedagogical and didactic use.
Manufacturers were invited to participate in the selection process by presenting one piano for evaluation and testing at the University. Four manufacturers responded: Bösendorfer, Bechstein, Blüthner, and FAZIOLI. While Bechstein offered the lowest prices, the University had predetermined that only 20% of the evaluation would be based on cost. Artistic value was weighted at 35%, with technical suitability and quality each accounting for 20%. Bösendorfer presented their model 214.
In respect to the technical suitability and quality, the University’s technicians, as was later revealed, found that FAZIOLI’s pianos held up much better than Bösendorfers and Steinways. Notably, Steinway did not participate in this high-profile tender due to internal issues.
After a thorough evaluation, the Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Wien decided to purchase three FAZIOLI pianos, specifically the FAZIOLI 212 model. This purchase increases the FAZIOLI count at the University to eleven instruments.
We congratulate the Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Wien on acquiring three FAZIOLI pianos and enhancing their collection with some of the finest instruments available in the world.
As music trends evolve, the piano continues to hold a meaningful place in modern music culture. While production tools and digital platforms change how music is created and consumed, the piano remains closely tied to emotional storytelling.
Unlike many household items, a piano is not designed for short-term use. Acoustic pianos, in particular, are built to last decades when properly maintained. This longevity changes how ownership should be approached.
