Excerpts of an interview by the public relations director of La Roque d’Anthéron in 2002.
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The backbone of the company is the restoration workshop, which is located at the back of the showroom. For the past 30 years, Christian lvanes, experienced technician, and Lionel Davaine, the latest arrival, have stood beside Alexandre Bouaziz, the person in charge who sells and rents pianos, harpsichords and positive organs, but who also arranges transportation, tuning and maintenance for prestigious concerts in the region and beyond. “We decided to dedicate ourselves to the ‘high-end’ product, in other words, we don’t rent to private individuals but only to organizers of important musical events”, explains Alexandre Bouaziz. So, his instruments can be found on stage at the Festival d’Art Lyrique d’Aix, at the Printemps des Arts of Monte Carlo, at the Marseille Opera, etc... Since 1996, they are also used by artists at La Roque d’Anthéron. This summer, Alexandre Bouaziz’s instruments were truly sought after by virtuosos at La Roque, especially a Steinway D acquired last spring by Pianos Prestige. “Grigory Sokolov insisted on playing only on this Steinway D N° 556356; unfortunately that model was already rented to the Festival International d’Art Lyrique d’Aix-en-Provence, and Alain Planès was scheduled to play several concerts with the same piano. Alexandre Bouaziz’s diplomacy, Stéphane Lissner’s understanding, and Alain Planès’s kindness were all needed in order to replace the piano in time for M. Sokolov’s concert at La Roque and get it immediately back to Aix-en-Provence afterwards. |
Alexandre Bouaziz hints at the minor conflicts that sometimes need resolving when two pianists want the same instrument. Consequently, it happens that an instrument like this famous Steinway can be reserved from one year to the next. Brigitte Engerer, Martha Argerich, Christian Zacharias and Keith Jarrett have in fact opted for this magnificent gem, but other artists like Anne Queffélec, François-René Duchable, Lisa Leonskaya, Vladimir Skanavi and Sergei Milstein have dared to be original and prefer the full-bodied sound of the magnificent concert Fazioli. Discreetly, the piano tuner from Aix attended every concert, even those on tour from La Durance to the Alpilles, made possible by renting one of his Steinway grand pianos. Even if working in the open air isn’t ideal, pianists are truly happy to play at La Roque. The atmosphere is not at all highbrow, and yet the music lovers are very knowledgeable. There is no ostentation and it feels like being at a jazz festival. “Despite the relaxed atmosphere” of the event, the piano technician is nonetheless anxious at every moment. “The difficulty of a festival like La Roque is of course the weather, but also the transportation. Moving the piano around can become somewhat stressful and there’s always the fear of a bad manoeuvre! Luckily, the public doesn’t feel this stress !”
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