In Spring of 2021, we were gifted a remarkable Steinway & Sons, model “D” full concert grand piano to serve as a performance piano in Saint Thomas Church. It is an instrument with a remarkable history.
Steinway & Sons, serial #495436, began life in 1986, being completed in NY and then retained and owned by its maker, having been transferred into the Steinway Concert & Artist Department (C&A) and being assigned its special C&A number, “CD-383”. There, for 20 years, “CD-383” would serve faithfully as a sort of soldier piano, being stationed in the legendary Steinway Hall Basement at 109 West 57th Street. In this location, it lived an active life as traveling piano in the front lines representing Steinway & Sons in missions as a piano frequently selected for concerts and recordings in New York City and throughout all of the USA. By mid-1990, “CD-383” was selected and exclusively reserved by pianist, Eugene Istomin.
This piano was twice flown to Europe and back; first to France for a concert tour throughout that country in 1996 beginning in Lille and culminating in a concert at Salle Gaveau in Paris. In 2000, “CD-383” returned to Europe with Istomin, this time to Budapest for the world premiere recording of Paul Paray’s Fantaisie for piano and orchestra with the Budapest Symphony Orchestra under Jean-Bernard Pommier. It was sold to the current owners, Mark Nelson and Dana Johnson, in 2006, and they wished it to go to an artistically-minded establishment which would treasure it and use it.
Some History Highlights of Steinway & Sons, “CD-383”
3-21-86 – Received at Steinway Hall into Concert & Artist Dept.
4-22-86 – Forwarded to Spoleto Festival, Charleston, SC
5-18-89 – Forwarded to Spoleto Festival, Charleston, SC
6-26-89 – Stationed at Caramoor Music Fest., Venetian Theater, Katonah, NY
10-20-89 – On tour with Stecher and Horowitz (returned 11/22/89)
06-19-90 – On tour with Eugene Istomin
07-06-91 – Forwarded to Univ. of Maryland, for Marian Anderson Competition
03-11-92 – Exclusive use of Eugene Istomin (Europe, flown to Paris)
1993 – Spring tour by Eugene Istomin
09-28-93 – On tour with Eugene Istomin
09-6-95 – Forwarded to Sherman Clay & Co., Seattle, WA for use by Eugene Istomin at Opera House and recording session
02-11-00 – Forwarded to France, Budapest recording session and Frankfurt
03-14-01 – Forwarded to Eugene Istomin home, Washington, DC on loan
2004 – Returned to Steinway Hall, New York City Concert Department
2006 – Sold to Mark Nelson & Dana Johnson and shipped to St. Helena, CA
2021 – Gifted, by Mark Nelson & Dana Johnson to St. Thomas – Fifth Avenue Church
