Yamaha Canada Music Launches CFX Concert Grand, 11/16

It is with great pride and excitement Yamaha Canada Music Ltd. unveils to the public the much-anticipated CFX concert grand, a state-of-the-art instrument nearly two decades in the making.  To mark the inaugural performance on this magnificent piano, Yamaha presents Olga Kern in recital at Koerner Hall on Tuesday, November 16, at 8:00 PM.
 
This was not an instrument created solely on a concept from behind closed doors.  Yamaha went into the field, and canvassed many great pianists for their feedback on what would make "the ultimate piano".  Part of the new CF Series, the CFX concert grand was created after thousands of hours spent private testing, with evaluations carried out in partnership with some of the most discerning and demanding concert pianists, professors, and technicians worldwide.  Along with Olga Kern, other members of the piano community consulted on this project include Jean-Marc Luisada Cyprien Katsaris, Alexander Kobrin, Frederic Chiu, Abbey Simon, and Maria João Pires.
Yamaha Music Corporation President, Mitsuru Umemura said, "The concept behind the series is 'Beauty and Power'.  The 'Beauty' refers to the wide range of tonal colours the CF Series is capable of, and 'Power' refers to its unprecedented tonal projection.  These pianos offer outstanding expressiveness for truly musical performances, along with enough presence to carry sound over a full symphony orchestra, in the largest of concert halls."  Olga Kern, the winner of the 2001 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, is a proud Yamaha artist, and of the CFX piano, says, "...It's so gorgeous!  And it's really comfortable to play with amazing sound control and the bass sounds great.  Everything responds well, and the dynamic range is astounding.  The pianissimo really sings." 
 
The CFX Series is not an advancement of current models; it is a totally new creation.  Each piano is hand-built by a small team comprising some of the world's most experienced and devoted craftsmen.  The pianos in this series include the flagship 9' model, and two smaller grand pianos, 6'11" CF6 and 6'3" CF4 to be released in 2011.  Jim Welter, Yamaha Canada's Piano Manager, said, "Yamaha CF concert grand pianos are respected and acclaimed at the very highest level.  The new CFX and accompanying models are the products of our strong partnerships with many of the world's top pianists and educators.  During every stage of development Yamaha designers consulted artists to ensure their ideals would be realised.  These instruments confirm Yamaha's ongoing reputation for tonal clarity, incredible deep-rich bass, open broad sonority and a long, singing sustain capability.  Yamaha is confident the CFX concert grand piano will further extend our outstanding success with International Artists and concert halls."
 
Ms. Kern will perform a recital featuring Haydn's Sonata No. 48 in C Major, Hob XVI: 35, Op. 30, No. 1; Schumann's Carnaval: Scènes mignonnes sur quatre notes, Op.9; Rachmaninov's Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat Minor, Op. 36; and Balakirev's Islamey: Oriental Fantasy.  For more information on Ms. Kern, please visit www.cami.com.