• Cousins of Bösendorfer S/N 44606 an illustrated article about some of the more famous pianos made by Bösendorfer that are the basis for the current Strauss Models of piano (including mine). This includes pianos played by Lizst, Strauss and other notable figures that exist in museums or private collections. Contributions of images and further information are invited by the author with the hope of adding to this page over time.

  
  Image at Right: Victor Borge commented during a filmed performance about the Bösendorfer Imperial "the Rolls-Royce of Pianos"

  
  

• How Bösendorfer S/N 44606 Came To Be, And How It Found It's Way To Me how I came to be privileged to know the late Mr. Roger Weisensteiner, R.P.T. In 1966 L. Bösendorfer Klavierfabrik GmbH became acquired by by Kimball International a US based corporation that itself became a subsidiary of Jasper International, a large conglomerate. It was Mr. Weisensteiner, a highly regarded Registered Piano Technician who became the President of Kimball and the overseer of the operations in Vienna on behalf of Kimball and Jasper. This article explains how I was introduced to Roger, and later to 44606 by Roger and given the opportunity to purchase this instrument.

  Throughout its ownership tenure, Kimball Intl. ensured that Bösendorfer retained its Austrian-European character, with pianos fashioned by hand in their craftsmen's traditional manner. On 7 January 2002, L. Bösendorfer Klavierfabrik GmbH was acquired by BAWAG-P.S.K. Group, then Austria's third largest banking concern. Then on 20 December 2007, BAWAG agreed to sell all shares in L. Bösendorfer Klavierfabrik GmbH to Yamaha Corporation of Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan. The pending legal process means this is not likely to be concluded until sometime in 2008 assuming all approvals are granted. But with Yamaha's expertise in the areas of conventional and electronic instruments, their serious interest in music as a whole, and intelligent management, I expect the future of Bösendorfer may be brighter than it has been in some years.

  
  

• Bösendorfer CEUS and my Imperial Piano Illustrated article about the Bösendorfer CEUS, a computer-controlled reproducing piano system announced in 2006. This technology builds upon prior development work by Wayne Stahnke and Bösendorfer. CEUS and was unveiled in the USA on 16 June 2007 at Bösendorfer New York. Article briefly explains the CEUS and its predecessor the Bösendorfer 290 SE made from 1978 to 1984. And finally I explain why and how I decided to have my precious piano retrofitted with this remarkable system. Includes color images, factory documents (User Manual, Technicians Manual, CEUS File Library) and more. Over time as I gain experience with the CEUS additional types of files will be added.

  
  

• Bösendorfer CEUS File Organization and Networking Illustrated article discusses the CEUS provided interfaces for LAN (Local Area Network), MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface), and USB. This explains the directories and .boe file organization of the Bösendorfer CEUS system as it is delivered from Vienna. I also discuss techniques for networking (connecting) to the CEUS from a PC or Macintosh computer.

  
  

• Bösendorfer CEUS Maintenance Hints color illustrated article written by the author of this site providing insights to the CEUS PC interior arrangement. Also covered are items the owner of a CEUS might want to know more about. This includes some advice related to the author's experiences of following the CEUS Service Manual, v2.00 English.

  
  

• Dropping A Bösendorfer Model 275 Piano Illustrated account of a tragic event on 11 April 2007 when a Model 275 Concert Grand Piano was dropped by professional piano movers in the UK off the liftgate of their delivery truck. The article is not only interesting as a reminder of how accidents can happen when even experienced humans are involved, but it was comprehensively documented and illustrated too. The story attained world wide circulation in the news media, and on web sites.

  The attention drawn by this event caused an even more favorable ultimate outcome that no one could have imagined!

  This article is on this site even though the site is dedicated to the Model 290 piano because it may help many who own or buy a large piano. The article content addresses topics including: Plan Accordingly In Advance, When Moving A Piano, and When Things Do Go Wrong.

  
  

• Gerhard Feldmann's Notable Clients. Mr. Feldmann is the Piano Technician who learned his craft while employed at L. Bösendorfer Klavierfabrik GmbH. He and his wife Lisa Feldmann now own Bösendorfer New York, the sole exclusively Bösendorfer showroom outside of Vienna, Austria. It is Mr. Feldmann to who I entrust the care of my Imperial piano. His base of experience is extensive, and the list of noteworthy clients reads like a Who's Who of great pianists over the past thirty years or more.

  
  

• Housing An Imperial 290 Article explaining some of the considerations of housing a Grand Piano including nominal temperature and humidity. This pays particular attention to the special concerns of housing the Model 290 owing to its physical size, weight, and the room requirements that would do justice to the Imperial Piano that has capability to reproduce a range of frequencies to as low as 16 Hz. This goes into some concerns when recording the instrument too.

  
  

• The Most Notorious Owner Of A Bösendorfer Imperial Piano This illustrated article briefly profiles the most notorious, evil genius (and his evil side kick) who ever owned an Imperial Piano. Furthermore, this shows images of a little known little Bösendorfer Imperial that was apparently custom made secretly by Bösendorfer GmbH specifically for this client.

  
  

• Pianists Who Played My Bösendorfer Imperial Model 290 Piano This page is hosted as a gesture of appreciation for those who have visited my home to play this piano. Some of them will have been recorded, and samples of their performances are available to be listened to at the "Hear This Piano" page of this site. This is not all inclusive since some visitors prefer to keep their private activities private.

  
  

• The Bösendorfer Music Library One of the best resources is this listing of commercially available CD and DVD recordings that were performed on the Bösendorfer Imperial Piano. The directory can be searched to show many other listings recorded on Bösendorfer pianos, or titles where the exact model in not known. This link will bring up a list of about sixty (60) titles sorted with the most recently released titles first. Each entry provides illustrations of the release cover with information about the content. This resource is hosted at the web site of L. Bösendorfer Klavierfabrik GmbH.

  
  

• Victor Borge (1909-2000) My brief tribute to the legendary performer who first introduced me to the Bösendorfer Imperial Piano. While best known by later generations of the 20th Century for his comedy, Mr. Borge was a gifted pianist and here are gathered and hosted some audio files of Mr. Borge's performances. The author appreciates the efforts of many who helped me to make this page possible and unique.

  
  

• What Bicycle Would the Owner of a Bösendorfer Imperial Ride? By coincidence, in 1981 the author of this site showed foresight and good taste by choosing to buy this road bicycle - also made in Austria!

  
  

  
  More to follow soon!

  
  

Contact the owner of this piano.