BORGO VENETO, Italy — At the age of 23, Luigi Borgato decided to build his first piano, for himself.
In the decades that ensued, the Italian craftsman grew his business into a prestigious brand capable of attracting buyers from all over the world — until the coronavirus pandemic abruptly put a halt to it all.
Now, the 58-year-old fears his ancient trade could disappear entirely in Italy, the country that invented the pianoforte at the end of the 17th century.
“Everything stopped, there are no more concerts, no more contacts with musicians. Without government assistance, our profession may not make it to the end of the pandemic,” Borgato told AFP.
Inside his h…
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