Yamaha Official Piano of Opera Company of Philadelphia

Puccini's Tosca Performed by the Philadephia Opera

The opera relies on Yamaha pianos to anchor performances like this 2002 production of Puccini's Tosca.

BUENA PARK, CA (June 16, 2004) — The Opera Company of Philadelphia has once again confirmed Yamaha as its official piano for the 2004-2005 season. The company, created in 1975 through a merger of the Philadelphia Lyric and the Philadelphia Grand Operas, is celebrating thirty years at The Academy of Music. Current plans include performances of Gounod's Faust, Donizetti's Don Pasquale and Strauss's Die Fledermaus.

"We've been incredibly fortunate to have enjoyed this relationship with Yamaha for the past several seasons," states Susan Ashbaker, the Opera Company's Director of Artistic and Music Administration. "Once again, Yamaha will provide us with all of our piano needs."

"After suffering through a series of inconsistent instruments in previous years, we now use several Yamaha upright and grand pianos," Ashbaker explains. "Our music staff is universally thrilled to have such top-notch, high-caliber pianos at its disposal. We have many long hours of rehearsals, sometimes as many as nine in one workday, and having a terrifically responsive instrument makes a huge difference in the end result. The staff is called upon to replicate the sound of an entire opera orchestra during piano rehearsals, and the Yamaha pianos have proven to be the best quality instrument for these purposes. We look forward to a long and happy continuation of this relationship."

For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.