Thursday, October 22, 2015

Ivanka Trump visits the Trump Luxe Event in Vancouver


VANCOUVER, BC - Wednesday the 21st of October, 2015 is known by some as 'Back to the Future Day', due to the fact that it was the 'future' date traveled to in the 1989 film 'Back to the Future II'.   Although no one rode in a futuristic time-machine, Ivanka Trump, the daughter of Presidential Candidate Donald Trump, traveled in a beautiful private jet from her home in the US to arrive 'in style' at the Trump Luxe Event held at London Air Centre.  Appropriately, Showcase Pianos brought the World's Only 24k Gold Leaf Fazioli F228 to the event and arranged for pianists Sunny, JayJay, and XinYi Wang to perform for the appreciative and well-heeled spectators.

The Fazioli both displayed an F228 in California Walnut, an F212 in Pyramid Mahogany, as well as the Gold Fazioli.  On loan from Lloyd Bruce Home was a Bentley couch, which is made by hand in Italy and has a back covered in California Walnut that matches one of the Fazioli pianos.

The event celebrated the success of the Trump Tower in Vancouver as everyone looks forward to it's opening next year.   Next door to the Trump building will be Canada's first Stefano Ricci boutique, an uber-luxurious Italian men's fashion store.

Photos by the very talented Scott Adolph of Sculptures of Light Photography





















Saturday, September 26, 2015

First Fazioli Arrives in Winnipeg



WINNIPEG, MB -  Most people have never heard of piano brand ‘Fazioli’ before, but for a pianist – it’s like hearing the name ‘Ferrari’, or ‘Lamborghini’.   Today they have come to be regarded as being the finest pianos ever made – and this is the first one ever to come to Winnipeg.

Fazioli is the new kid on the block in the world of piano making – a place that doesn’t often get newcomers.  In 1979, Paolo Fazioli – himself a pianist and an engineer – decided that he wanted to create the best piano known to man.   It has parts plated in 18K gold, and the soundboard is carved from the same trees that Antonio Stradivari used for his famous instruments.

"The Fazioli is every pianist's dream. This piano can sing - cry - scream - and even dance for you. Anything you ask of it - it responds beautifully.  It is quite simply the most wonderful piano being made in the world today.",  Linda Lee Thomas – Principal Pianist, VSO

Each one take about 3 years of man hours to make, and is around double the price of a Steinway in the same size.   What’s the difference?    Showcase Pianos owner Manuel Bernaschek is the representative for Fazioli in Western Canada, and says:   “To me it reminds me of when I heard of HD TV.   I thought to myself ‘I’ll never be able to tell the difference’.   But once you see it, you almost feel like you can’t live without it.   The Fazioli is a piano, but in HD”.

"Words really can't properly express my enthusiasm for these incredible instruments. I have played many hundreds of instruments in my 28 years of professional music making, and I can honestly say that the Fazioli is simply the finest instrument I have ever had the privilege to play." -- Miles Black, Jazz Pianist

Fazioli has been gaining a strong following in recent years, including jazz legend Herbie Hancock, and the world’s leading renowned Bach-expert Angela Hewitt.    Both of these world renowned pianists played on this exact piano before it left the showroom in Vancouver.

This instrument has also been signed by two of the greatest jazz pianists alive today:  Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea.

ABOUT THE PIANIST:

Showcase Pianos | FAZIOLI has invited ‘Fazioli Young Artist’ Sarah Shing to perform for the media.   (About Sarah…   Sarah is 10 years old and in grade 5 piano.  For her grade 4 exam she was awarded a score of 98.8%.   Sarah started learning piano at the age of 3 with Music for Young Children and then started taking private lessons with Caron Whitlaw-Hiebert.  She has been awarded 9 gold performances through Winnipeg Music Festival, and for the past two years, she has been invited to play at the closing Gala ceremony and was awarded a Manitoba Registered Music Teachers’ Association Scholarship.   She has also competed in the Canadian Music Competition twice (she went to the Nationals in Quebec City in 2014) and she intends to participate again this year.  Also, for the past three years, Sarah has auditioned for and has been invited to participate in the Enrichment Program at the University of Manitoba, and was invited to play at the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra with Musicians in the Making.  She will be playing at the WSO again this year.  For the past two years, she has volunteered her time to play at The Forks Market with the Manitoba Registered Music Teachers’ Association to raise funds for music lessons for underprivileged kids.)

Published in the Media:

Winnipeg Free Press

CBC TV News

CTV News

Friday, September 18, 2015

Malcolm Hasman lists PH at Harbour Green 2


VANCOUVER, BC - The Penthouse at Harbour Green 2 is one of the most desired addresses in the city, and now available for purchase at just less than $20 million.

At the exclusive 'invitation-only' event on Tuesday the 15th of September, Canada's top realtor Malcolm Hasman prepared to dazzle the guests by featuring 5 and 6 year old pianists Sunny & ChengJie that took the centre stage on the rare Italian Fazioli piano.

The two star students are taking lessons at FaFan Piano Studio in Vancouver, studying with Ms. Xiao, who has produced other incredible prodigies as Isabelle Xin-Yi Wang, Ray Zhang, and also Ryan Wang that had appeared on the Ellen Show.

Some of the city's top VIPs came to enjoy the view and check out what has long been one of the most sought after apartment residences in the city.

Photos by Scott Adolph of Sculptures of Light Photography.

















Celebrating the opening of 745 Thurlow with Fazioli


VANCOUVER, BC - MCM Celebrates it's 50th Anniversary at the same time as the new building at 745 Thurlow opens it's doors.  MCM is the architect firm behind many Vancouver landmarks including Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver Aquarium, all of the Bentall buildings, Terminal City Club, and many more.

The all new 745 Thurlow which belongs to Bentall Kennedy, and at the retail level, it will be the new home of Versace and Brunello Cucinelli.

On the evening of Thursday the 17th of September, guests enjoyed a quick ride up to the roof top deck in the efficient and spacious freight elevator that had brought up the beautiful Fazioli piano only a few hours before.

Prominent Vancouver jazz pianist Max Zipursky made up the trio of musicians that performed the beautiful background music that was enjoyed by the entire group that packed out the roof deck.



 


 


Saturday, September 12, 2015

Luca Buratto wins Honen's Competition playing Fazioli Piano


CALGARY, AB - On Friday the 11th of September, 2015, Italian pianist Luca Buratto performed the final round of the Honen's Comepitition on the Fazioli F278 Concert Grand and was announced the winner, receiving $100,000 in cash, and a $500,000 investment into his career!

Piano technician for Fazioli Michael Lipnicki and his wife Nicole [left] are pictured here with the winner, Luca Buratto, and Manuel Bernaschek, owner of Showcase Pianos [right] wearing the beautiful grey Stefano Ricci suit.