Italian piano maker sees handmade craft threatened with extinction

'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, ' said Borgato. Photo: AFP

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.