Rachmaninoff Prelude in b minor

And finally we come to the story of this particular piano… J. Becker factory was acquired by Schroeder in 1904, but the factory continued brilliant Becker production traditions. Instruments continued receiving top prizes on International Faires and Expos. During the 1st World War the production of pianos slowly came to almost complete halt. October revolution did not go well with the owner, factories were nationalized. For several years there was literally no new instruments made. In 1924 all Russian piano makers were consolidated in 1 production facility. Becker, Schroeder, Muelbach, Diederichs Brothers, Ratke, Roenish and Offenbach were put together in one factory later getting name “Red October”. Early produced instruments were simply made of remains of unfinished instruments of previous manufacturers. Such was a glorious full size upright piano which was in fact J. Becker piano, often times it had “RED October” name on its fallboard and J. Becker stamped on the frame. Full concert grands were not produced at the time. Pianos were of varying quality. The new life “Red October” brand got after the 2nd World War. Historically St Petersburg became a capital of most piano production in Russia. But during the siege of Leningrad all of the technicians and craftsmen working at the piano factories died. All aged stockpiles of wood were lost and production facilities largely destroyed. In early 1943 during the Stalingrad battle Stalin has issued an order to recreate music production industry. Followed was a creation of Institute of music instruments in 1947 to oversee rebirth of new music industry in Russia. Children of craftsmen who died in Leningrad siege were the very first technicians to restart piano building. They were 16-18 years old. Numerous patents were registered at that time. First prototypes of Concert grand pianos started to appear in 1954. They were completely original design and did not look like any other instrument. Each new instrument was put on a stage behind the curtain and played by Leningrad Conservatory students and professors in blind tests against Bechstein, Boesendorfer and Steinway instruments . Each and every instrument was receiving a score mark. First 3 years of testing audience found “Red October” pianos lacking certain qualities that the best instruments of the time had. But in 1957 situation changed. During another blind audition “Red October” received the highest score against other instruments. It was decided to take that piano on world fare in Brussels in 1958 where it received a Gold Medal having won against all other western brands. This is that piano. This piano indeed can be called “Stalin’s Imperial”. Its dimensions are rather enormous and remind Boesendorfer Imperial (but without extra keys) in its width, and almost as long. Resonant body construction and extra soft hammers create tone very reminiscent of Boesendorfer Imperial pianos from those years and is just as grandeur in volumes and clarity. Documentation is sketchy, but it appears only 47 of this model pianos were produced, later unfortunately production was changed for instruments more resembling Steinway geometry and the instruments lost their glorious sound. I managed to get 3 of these pianos in different state of disrepair and they show remarkable similarity in their tonal quality. It is also known that S. Richter chose these instruments when they were available for his concerts in Soviet Union over the western likes.