SOLD: Hamburg Steinway B Semi-Concert Grand – Royal College of Music and Ambassador Auditorium Provenance
Ordered in an exquisite, custom rosewood finish for the Royal Academy of Music in London, then acquired by famed Ambassador Auditorium & College in Pasadena, this Hamburg Steinway B has been pampered its whole life.
Ambassador Auditorium was one of the great concert venues of North America until it was closed in 1995*. Many of the world’s greatest pianists performed there, including Vladimir Horowitz, Arthur Rubinstein, Claudio Arrau, Alexis Weisenberg, Alicia de Larrocha, Byron Janis, Andre Watts, Ivo Pogorelich, Dmitri Ratser, and many more.
This was one of three Hamburg Steinways owned by Ambassador – the other two, model D concert grands, were used in the Auditorium, while this Hamburg B was used primarily for private artist receptions after numerous concerts over the years.
The action touch and response is crisp and consistent which offers a broad range of nuance and control. The tone throughout is brilliant, showcasing a deep and clearly powerful bass along with a sustained treble that discerning players appreciate. Truly classic Hamburg Steinway sound & touch. Original ivory keys in beautiful condition.
This is an opportunity to own a Hamburg Steinway that sounds as stunning as it looks with a historical provenance that represents a bygone era of Pasadena/Southern California musical greatness. Truly a needle in a haystack find.
Recording studio/concert hall ready.
- Manufacturer: Steinway & Sons (Hamburg Factory)
- Serial Number: 405397
- Year: 1968
- Model: B
- Length: 6’10½”
- Finish/Color: High Gloss Rosewood
- Showroom condition
New Retail: $150,000
Sale Price: $98,500
*While new management purchased the College and Auditorium in 2004, with periodic concerts often featuring the Pasadena Symphony in Ambassador Auditorium, the venue no longer features yearly concert seasons with the caliber of solo artists it did in the past.
