Each hall and piano has its own idiosyncracies. At the last moment I have to run to the parsonage for some oil to stop the pedals and chair from squeaking. In Stowe and Burlington I will perform in Congregational churches with fine acoustics that gently amplify the sound without distorting the tone. Both pianos have cranky notes here and there, though, and whole sections of the piano that are too loud or too weak, and I will have to compensate for these quirks while I'm performing. Well, this is why it's important to show up early, to make these last-minute adjustments in response to the unique situation each piano presents, all part and parcel of the life of a concert pianist.
PIano tuning is extremely difficult, consisting half of science and half of mysticism.
Although I don't have the experience to tune a piano fully, I do bring my tuning hammer to wrench an errant note or two back into tune. But time is running out. The hosts urge me to put my tuning equipment away. So here we are. The audience, a large one tonight, rustles about.