A concert night to be remembered:
The young virtuoso Franz Liszt, famous for his passionate play, is destined to be the first great Bösendorfer Artist of his time. Over night he substantially helps the success of our company.
Today, our manufactory offers a fine assortment of 5 Grand Pianos starting at the size of 170VC, 185VC, 200, 214VC up to 225, and 3 brilliant Concert Grands with the new size 230VC and 280VC to the legendary 290 Imperial. The 2 upright instruments Grand Upright 120 & 130 complete our fine assortment. They all share the legendary
Bösendorfer DNA.
Portrait of Ignaz Bösendorfer, founder of Bösendorfer
Ignaz is born in 1794 in Vienna as a son of the master carpenter Jakob and his wife Martha Bösendorfer. At the age of 19, he starts his apprenticeship with Joseph Brodmann ( 1763 – 1848 ), one of the most famous piano makers of his time. Young Ignaz seems to be very gifted, and already in 1815, he receives an award by the Viennese Academy of Arts. At the same time in Vienna there are multiple very renowned piano builders like Nanette and Johann Andreas Streicher, Johann Schantz, Anton Walter, Conrad Graf and Michael Schweighofer. Acquiring invaluable knowledge and skill during his apprenticeship Ignaz Bösendorfer takes over the firm from Joseph Brodmann, who retired at the age of 65 in 1828.
It is in the year of 1828 – the year when Franz Schubert is buried next to Beethoven in Vienna – on the 25th of July, when Ignaz Bösendorfer is officially granted the right to become a member of the prestigious Austrian instrument manufactures guild in Vienna. This turns out to be the official founding date of what later will become Austria’s only remaining prime piano manufacturer, spreading colourfully brilliant piano notes worldwide. Ignaz Bösendorfer invests 500 Gulden at the beginning, an investment in prosperity considering the fact that he leaves his son Ludwig a company worth 145.000 Gulden in 1859 when he dies.
1838, Vienna: It is very well known that not every piano can withstand the passionate, virtuoso play of the young composer and artist Franz Liszt. Recommended by his friends he decides to select a Bösendorfer Grand for his concert in Vienna. Due to the superb crafting and high quality delivered by Bösendorfer Liszt does not have to hold back his artistic spirit – to his surprise. The audience is thrilled. Bösendorfer becomes famous over night and following this concert many more shall follow. A close friendship between Liszt and Bösendorfer develops.
Pianos at this time – the period of “Viennese Biedermeier” – are not perceived as an instrument built for stages but as the instrument of entertainment at home. The Imperial government at this time is rather restrictive and social life takes place behind closed doors. Private salons and gatherings, exclusive events, so to say, are held as homage to local artists and composers, and provide high class amusement. The most prominent example of such are probably the Schubertiades – named after Franz Schubert. The piano has a major role for these salons. It is not surprising that you will find up to 387 piano makers in Vienna back then, suppliers of music, joy and entertainment. In the founding year of the company in 1828, Ignaz Bösendorfer handcrafts four pianos and later increases production to a total of 200 instruments by 1835. In 1839, the Emperor of Austria awards Ignaz Bösendorfer the official title of “Imperial and Royal Piano Purveyor to the Court” – the first piano craftsman ever granted this honour. Numerous gold medals and first prizes follow.
Ignaz Bösendorfer – soon becoming close friends with Franz Liszt and Anton Rubinstein – is very active in Germany, UK, Italy, Russia, Brazil and Egypt. The increasing demand for his Bösendorfer Grands leads the artisan to build a new factory. Unfortunately he did not see his project finished. By 1859, Ignaz dies, leaving his manufactory in the skillful hands of his son Ludwig. Ignaz’s death is mourned by all Viennese music lovers.
Born on April 10th1835, Ludwig is not only educated by his father but also attends the Imperial Polytechnic Institute in Vienna. His acquired know-how Ludwig later on puts to good use. In 1860, he invents a new action, and in 1862 he receives the first foreign award in London for his “Patent Grand”. In 1867, he participates at the World Exhibition in Paris. The success of his pianos, also due to their breath-taking design, is that remarkable that Austrian Empress Elisabeth, “Sissi”, orders a Bösendorfer Grand as her personal gift for Empress Eugenie of France. This instrument is designed by Theophil Hansen, a famous architect in Vienna, who built the Musikverein and the Austrian Parliament. The Paris Exhibition increases Bösendorfer’s fame all over the world, and the export destinations include places like Singapore, Rio, Stockholm and Tokyo.
In 1870, Bösendorfer buys the building at Graf-Starhemberggasse 14 in the Fourth District of Vienna. The office and the showrooms move into the city centre of Vienna, the Palais Liechtenstein in the Herrengasse 6. Ludwig is not only an artisan of the Art of the Piano but also a patron of music and arts. On November 19th, 1872, Hans von Bülow, son-in-law of Liszt, inaugurates the Bösendorfer Hall at Palais Liechtenstein, after Ludwig recognised the remarkable acoustic sound qualities of the former riding stable. During the next 40 years joyful and artistically remarkable piano and chamber music concerts and recitals are held there. Initially organised by Ludwig, around 4.000 concerts take place in the Bösendorfer Hallcounting artists such as: Wilhelm Backhaus, Ferruccio Busoni, Eugen d’Albertpremiering in Vienna 1886, Wilhelm Kienzl, Fritz Kreisler, Theodor Leschetizky, Franz Liszt, Gustav Mahler,Sophie Menter,Ignaz Paderewski (frequently seen on stage of the Bösendorfer Hall), Max Reger,Anton Rubinstein, Pablo Sarasate, Emil von Sauer, Artur Schnabel, Richard Strauss, Ernst von DohnanyiandHugo Wolf. The Bösendorfer Hall turns out to be a catalyser and focal point of music and art. Bösendorfer not only supports these concerts by delivering pianos but actively fosters developments in music and art.
