What Is a Fazioli Piano?

The answer to this question starts in 1944 in Rome, Italy. That’s when Paolo Fazioli—the man who would later build the piano factory that carries his family’s name—was born. The Faziolis were a family of furniture makers, so Paolo grew up surrounded by rare and exotic woods such as teak, mahogany, and rosewood.

However, his passion for music led him to earn a diploma in piano at the G. Rossini Conservatory in Pesaro, and a master’s degree in music composition at the Academy of St. Cecilia. He also received a degree in mechanical engineering.

Even though Paolo Fazioli was involved in the family business alongside his brothers, he never gave up his dream of building the world’s finest grand pianos. And his dream became a reality at the end of the 1970s when the Fazioli Factory for Pianos became realized within the existing furniture plant. In 1979, Paolo started designing the first prototype for a grand piano. The factory has been manufacturing pianos ever since.

Where Are Fazioli Pianos Made?

All the pianos are made in Sacile, Italy, a town located about 40 miles north of Venice. Up until 1998, the pianos were manufactured in the small factory that was part of the furniture plant. After that, the company purchased an area of approximately 150,000 sq. ft. next to the existing factory and moved production to the new location. The new facility includes a laboratory for acoustic research and a concert hall in which new instruments can be tested.

A few years later, the Fazioli Concert Hall was completed. The hall, which is equipped with variable acoustic equipment, is suitable for instrument testing, concerts, and recording.

How Many Pianos Does Fazioli Make a Year?

Opening the new factory meant that production could increase. In 2001, the company was making approximately 100 pianos each year. Then, in 2004, production finally exceeded 100 units due to larger orders from all over the world being placed. Currently, the company builds less than 150 pianos per year, in six sizes from 5′ 2″ to 10′ 2″—the last one being one of the largest pianos in the world, with even further distinction as having four pedals.

Pianist and engineer Paolo Fazioli was assisted by a small team in developing his piano. The team that helped build the first prototype consisted of Professor Pietro Righini, an expert in musical acoustics, and Professor Guglielmo Giordano, a wood technologist, as well as Virgilio Fazioli and Lino Tiveron. Since then, the company has worked closely with numerous experts to constantly improve its pianos, including Zeltron (Zanussi Institute for Research)—with the aim of further improving tonal quality.

Who Plays Them?

The Fazioli Concert Hall’s first concert season was inaugurated by concert pianist Aldo Ciccolini, who played the instrument that still sits in the hall: the F278 concert grand. Other well-known artists who use Fazioli pianos include Alfred Brendel, Martha Argerich, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Lazar Berman, Nikita Magaloff, Michel Beroff, Annie Fischer, and Louis Lortie, among many others.

The Rubinstein Competition, International Tchaikovsky Competition, and International Chopin Competition all offer Fazioli pianos. In fact, the 2021 Winner of the competition chose to perform on a Fazioli Concert Grand, as did the 3rd place and 5th place prize winners. Faziolis have also been purchased by the Royal Academy of Music, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the Royal College of Music, and The Juilliard School.

Many pianists who play Faziolis say these are the best pianos they have ever played.

The Fazioli F308 is the largest model made by Fazioli: With its 3.08 m (10.2 ft.) length, it is also the longest piano available on the general market. Longer strings generate more strength and richness of sound, which is an advantage of a longer piano, together with increased expressiveness and emotions.

The F308 has the ability to add a “fourth pedal” which was invented by Paolo Fazioli, located to the left of the three traditional pedals. It reduces the hammer-blow distance, which decreases the volume without modifying the timbre. At the same time, it facilitates the performance of glissandos, pianissimos, rapid passages, and legatos. It functions just like the soft pedal on an upright piano.

The F308 is the absolute crown jewel, and was designed for modern, large-capacity concert halls and very big spaces. It has immense power and extraordinary harmonic richness, owing to the increased string length in the bass section.

Colors: black, white, red, blue

Dimensions: 10’2″x 63″ or 3m 8cm x 158cm

Available Finishes: Satin or Polished Ebony, Other Veneers

Styles: Amboina, Chiocciola, Fairmont, M. Liminal, Macassar, Malachite, Marco Polo, Royal, Silver, Strauss, Walnut California Brier

Features:

• Val di Fiemme, Italian Alps, quarter sawn soundboard;
• Laminated maple rim;
• Radial spruce beam frame;
• Red spruce ribs;
• Traditional sand cast frame;
• Delignit pin block;
• Renner action;
• Kluge keyboard;
• Adjustable capo d’astro bar;
• Hard rock maple, hornbeam, and hard boxwood hand notched bridges;
• Double duplex scale design;
• Optional 4th pedal;
• And 10-year warranty.

The Fazioli F183 is ideal for both piano lovers and professional pianists, alike. It offers a full range of dynamic performance in small homes, apartments, or practice studios—while remaining conveniently compact. With a fine balance between the bass and treble, this piano has a projecting tone, which exceeds its dimensions.

The F183 creates a mellow, rich, and brilliant sound suited for the entire piano repertoire.

Colors: black, white, red, blue

Dimensions: 6’1″x 60″ or 1m 83cm x 152cm

Available Finishes: Satin or Polished Ebony, Other Veneers

Styles: Amboina, Chiocciola, Fairmont, M. Liminal, Macassar, Malachite, Marco Polo, Royal, Silver, Strauss, Walnut California Brier

Features:

• Val di Fiemme, Italian Alps, quarter sawn soundboard;
• Laminated maple rim;
• Radial spruce beam frame;
• Red spruce ribs;
• Traditional sand cast frame;
• Delignit pin block;
• Renner action;
• Kluge keyboard;
• Adjustable capo d’astro bar;
• Hard rock maple, hornbeam, and hard boxwood hand notched bridges;
• Double duplex scale design;
• And 10-year warranty.

Here at Ellis Piano, we have been selling pianos for almost 40 years. Now with over 400 pianos in stock, we’ve managed to learn a thing or two about them. That’s why we represent manufacturers like Fazioli and display their pianos proudly in our showroom in Green Valley Village on Highway 31 in Birmingham, Alabama. Whether you have already decided on a model or want to test them before choosing, we hope to see you soon in our shop! Alternatively, you can reach out to us online and we’ll reply shortly.