THE PIANO TUNER

This Taiwanese novella is like a musical rhapsody celebrating the wonders of the piano. Fernando Chien, an actor born in Taiwan and well known for his action roles, narrates. The story is told by a former musical prodigy who rejected the concert stage to restore ailing pianos to musical health. Chien's voice is energetic, and his presentation is straightforward and upbeat. The mood is soft and dreamy, and the nonlinear plot speaks of lost loves, secrets, sorrows, and music forever unheard. Especially memorable is a scene in a warehouse where used pianos are to be cannibalized for parts. D.L.G. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2023]