Recently, Dr. Laul helped to judge our student Classical Piano Competition and at the same time, was interviewed on a live show that WRTI has called "Crossover" with Jill Pasternak.

It is usually interesting, but I really enjoyed this segment. Check it out and let me know your thoughts:

Dr. Laul interview on Philly Public Radio

Very informative and interesting interview Rich. Thanks for posting it.

It's a little gem. Beautifully clear and illuminating. A really delightful interview. Thank you very much for this, Rich. It gives a very personal account of history of the Estonia piano.

Thank you again.

Robert.

It's a very interesting case showing the difference between a pianomaker building his instruments from a highly personal and clearly pianistic, even historic perspective - versus the one primarily concerned with competition, numbers of units built, profit and worldwide distribution of product.

Anybody who has ever played a recent Estonia grand, will quickly recognize that this piano is not exactly being built by some odd "chairman of the board" rotating every 2 years or so and next deciding that mandolins, canoes or the latest version I-pods are a better way to make money.....

Norbert

Thanks for the responses so far.

Unfortunately, the final piece was edited ad a part that was very passionate IMHO (I was sitting in the soundbooth) about variety of pianos wound up on the cutting room floor.

(Maybe I can get a copy of it )

Very interesting, many thanks!

He sounds very American...

Thanks so much for posting. I enjoyed this interview.

Thanks for the link to this interview. There are 2 things that occurred to me as I listened.

#1 Listen to the Steinway assumptions and comparisons that are made by the interviewer. It never ceases to amaze me how deeply entrenched Steinway has gotten their name into people's minds.

#2 Dr. Indrek Laul is a very fine concert pianist, with a repertoire that encompasses the entire standard literature, and the value of this in helping Estonias become the instrument they are cannot be underestimated. Indrek does not just play the piano well. He is the real deal. No amount of technical jargon can fool him. He knows the truth of an instrument when he plays it. He also knows the truth of his competitors instruments when he plays them.
I am sure that if the performance decisions of so called "Tier 1" instruments were being made by pianists of Indrek's callibre, they would be, with only a couple exceptions, quite different than what you presently experience. And, in my opinion, they would be much better.

Dear Keith,

I agree with both of your points. Jill Pasternak, the interviewer, is actually a professional level harpist. Although she knows the repertoire and music in general well, she also has a bias toward Steinway. Although, now that I think about it she did help to choose a new Estonia for the radio station, so she has an open mind.

By the way, she has a 1930's Steinway grand in her home that we rebuilt.

(At least she knows what dealer to choose )

Indrek Laul is very credible in the interview and engaging, I suppose in an Estonian way. Interesting passage on designing pianos around what one hopes to evoke from the music.

I only wish I could have heard him play some Liszt.