The Viennese Piano

Beautiful piece, Steven! Thank you for sharing the link. I have a Steinway in our home (started playing when I was 3 years old) and enjoy seeing a classical music concert, when possible, on European trips. Seeing a few pianos that Chopin, etc. have played in Europe is always a highlight, too. I attended a ballet at the Vienna Opera house but missed the showroom you’re mentioning which would have been a nice stop.

“If you let your soul, your imagination, your ears lead the way, the fingers will come along.” - an accurate quote from your link above….after a lot of practicing. ; )

Thanks for the tip. I'll be in Vienna in May with a "piano guy." We'll check out the showroom.

Largely unknown outside the world of musicians , the Bosendorfer piano built in Vienna since 1828 is one of the finest in the world

How true! Thanks to the takeover by Yamaha, Bösendorfer was able to survive and did not perish like so many other excellent Viennese piano makers such as Ehrbar, Stelzhammer or Stingl, previously Streicher (founded in 1802 by Nanette Streicher, nee Stein from Augsburg, Beethoven's temporary housekeeper). A visit to the Bösendorfer manufactory in Wiener Neustadt (by appointment) is highly recommended!

BTW, anyone interested in historic pianos should not miss a visit to Gert Hecher's piano studio.

sla019 . Nice to hear from you ! I was under the impression that it was only possible to visit the manufactory if you were a dealer . I will be back in Vienna this coming Autumn for most of October into early November, and will absolutely contact them for a visit . I first became acquainted with Bosendorfer many years ago , as a schoolmate , who had become a concert pianist , performed on them regularly . I did have the pleasure on a recent trip ( 2019 , pre - pandemic ) to Germany to see a number of Bechsteins ( there was a showroom across Halderstrasse , from our hotel in Augsburg )

BTW, anyone interested in historic pianos should not miss a visit to ...

https://www.technischesmuseum.at/exhibition/musical_instruments

wmt1 , looks good , reminds me of Deutsches Museum in Munich and Artes et Metiers in Paris . . looking forward to seeing this next Autumn , Thanks !

Yes @wmt1, that's is also an extremely interesting and inspiring place for piano lovers. But at Hecher you can not only admire the pianos, but also play them ;) For example, an admirable Konrad Graf from 1825 (approx 15 years or so older than the Graf in the Metropolitan Museum) or the first cross string piano built by J.B. Streicher (late 1870's; he didn't like that construction principle, but was forced to it by the new taste). It is best to have lots of time and to visit both ... ;)

@steven Wish you a pleasant visit!

I had a Bechstein baby grand, which I inherited from my uncle. It was stolen by a renter. Very sad.

I:'m sorry to hear this , Emily . I had an instrument stolen when I was much younger, it leaves a pit in one's stomach .

If you aren't a classical fan, Tori Amos is a famous Bosendorfer player in popular music.

Philip , I think you will enjoy this 15 minute video about the construction of the instruments , and it includes clips of popular artists , including Tori Amos - https://youtu.be/HDbMumNvUVQ

Steven, thank you for this topic so much! We shall visit both sites in October for sure.