Sunset piano
Artist Mauro Ffortissimo plays the piano for a crowd in Half Moon Bay. The piano has been perched overlooking the ocean, and city officials have given Ffortissimo until Thursday to remove it. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
On Sunday Ffortissimo plans to burn the piano. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Thursday will be the piano’s last scheduled bluff-side concert along the Coastside Trail at the end of Kelly Avenue. Friday, Ffortissimo said, he has been invited to play the instrument at the Half Moon Bay Yacht Club. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
“The idea of the burning,” Ffortissimo said, “is a cremation, to liberate the piano from its physical form. I just hope it won’t be a `Spare the Air’ day.” (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Not everyone is as happy as Ffortissimo about the piano’s upcoming freedom. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
The salt air has hurt Estey’s sound. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)