Thomas Solich is the piano man at the Pittsburgh Opera's sale
Thomas Solich learned to play the piano by reading Braille, a system of raised dots that can be read with the fingers by people who are blind or who have low vision.
He can’t see the more than 100 stunning instruments in the room as they sit idle, waiting for a musician to make them sing again.
“But I can feel them,” said Solich, owner of Solich Piano, based in Youngstown/Boardman, Ohio area and the official piano provider of Pittsburgh Opera. “The cumulative potential of the musical possibilities here is infinite. There are so many memories from past sales here. The families who come are all impacted by the music. They are not just buying a piano from a store. They are buying a piano with a story – that will eventually become their story.”
The annual Pittsburgh Opera piano sale is Thursday through Sunday at the opera’s home in the Strip District. Solich Piano loans the instruments for rehearsals, concerts, auditions and live performances for one season.
The meticulously maintained pianos, which include Yamaha, Bösendorfer, Clavinova, Baldwin, Estonia and others are on display inside the George Rowland White studio at 2425 Liberty Ave.
It took two days to set up the display and three technicians to tune the pianos.
Hours are 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. today, 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5p.m. Sunday.
“We look forward to this event, said Kyle Merritt, chief operating officer of Solich Piano. “We have people purchasing a piano for the first time to those who have bought a starter piano and come back for the next level.”
Solich, who has family in Pittsburgh, said he has received 35 % more calls than last year for appointments. He said the pandemic has created additional interest with people being home more. Many families didn’t take a summer vacation and have money to spend on something that can be educational and used while they will be in the house more this winter.
The pianos range in price from a few thousand dollars to a quarter of a million dollars, according to Solich. There are several financing options. Deliveries can be made in time for the holidays. Trade-ins are available.
The partnership between Pittsburgh Opera and Solich Piano, the largest Yamaha retailer in the mid-west, dates back to 2009. The pianos are used daily by three full-time music coaches and music director.
Families, churches and schools have purchased pianos in the past.
“It’s quite striking when you see the pianos all in one room,” said Bill Powers, Pittsburgh Opera’s managing director. “This sale also drives people to the building who might not have ever been here before. It’s a wonderful cross-promotion tool for us. It helps us capture an arts audience.”
Solich said he got a call from a woman in her 80s who played when she was younger and wants to play again.
One of the choices is an $87,000 Yamaha 7 foot concert grand piano C6X.
“We will have someone say, ‘I want this piano that was played by the Opera,’” Solich said. “This is the main fixture for all of the onsite concerts that happened in this room and occasionally the Opera took this piano with them to perform. Someone buys this every year because they want that piano that the artists rehearsed and performed on.”
There is an option that doesn’t have strings so it never needs to be tuned. and an acoustic piano with headphones so when you play the strings are muted and you don’t interrupt other people in the house.
There is a Yamaha baby grand Disklavier which can capture a person’s performance and play by itself. It’s what’s called a reproducing piano.
The piano can be connected to a Wi-Fi network and your smart device. If musical icon Elton John was having a concert, the piano could stream his key movements and pedals and replicate it on one’s piano.
“This piano is so powerful,” said Solich. “With this piano the teacher can give a lesson from anywhere in the world…and do it in real time.”
Solich, a concert pianist was taught by Nicholas Constantinidis, a blind Greek concert pianist.
“When you touch a piano for the first time it’s like you are falling in love,” said Solich. “How can I sell you a piano if I can’t play?”
The sale is by appointment only. Call 412-454-5555.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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