Anton Nel's new black monster
When Austin’s premier concert pianist acquires a 9-foot Steinway, you know that people will gather in his
condo to hear it baptized. Actually Steinway-Artist Anton Nel — originally from South Africa but long of
Austin, Texas — threw three listening parties.
Surrounded by his exquisite selection of Asian art, Nel raised the lid on the black monster, then parked at
the keyboards to reveal unbelievably rich, tender sounds from the big-voiced instrument. Nel, you see,
had helped the local Performing Arts Center select their pianos, and ran across this special one. "One
of the world's great pianos," he beamed.
When Austin’s premier concert pianist acquires a 9-foot Steinway, you know that people will gather in his
condo to hear it baptized. Actually Steinway-Artist Anton Nel — originally from South Africa but long of
Austin, Texas — threw three listening parties.
Surrounded by his exquisite selection of Asian art, Nel raised the lid on the black monster, then parked at
the keyboards to reveal unbelievably rich, tender sounds from the big-voiced instrument. Nel, you see,
had helped the local Performing Arts Center select their pianos, and ran across this special one. "One
of the world's great pianos," he beamed.
A special installation crew had hoisted it to the second-floor landing, then, amazingly crooked its enormous frame into Nel's jigsaw puzzle
of a floor plan.
He played Chopin, Beethoven, Debussy and Schubert, including selections from "The Wanderer," the piece that nabbed him the 1987
Naumburg International Piano Competition prize and cinched his far-flung career.
of a floor plan.
He played Chopin, Beethoven, Debussy and Schubert, including selections from "The Wanderer," the piece that nabbed him the 1987
Naumburg International Piano Competition prize and cinched his far-flung career.
