Bösendorfer Beethoven 2020 Edition Grand Piano

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) was born in Bonn in 1770 and first visited Vienna in 1787, originally planning to study with maestro W.A. Mozart. He was obliged to return home almost immediately as his mother became ill. He returned in 1792, after the death of Mozart, and began studying with Joseph Haydn. Before his departure, his patron Ferdinand von Waldstein writes to him:

“Dear Beethoven! You are going to Vienna in fulfilment of your long-standing wishes. The genius of Mozart is mourning and weeping over the death of his pupil. He has found a refuge but no occupation with the inexhaustible Haydn ( … ). With the help of assiduous labour, you shall receive Mozart’s spirit out of the hands of Haydn. Your true friend, Waldstein.”

Beethoven lived and worked in Vienna for the rest of his life (he died in 1827), helping it to further consolidate its position as the musical centre of Europe. He composed all of his immortal masterpieces here. Ignaz Bösendorfer started his piano manufactory in 1828, the year following Beethoven’s death, and his ideas of sound were very much shaped by Vienna’s cultural environment, which was, eventually, profoundly influenced by Beethoven. Many artists have chosen Bösendorfer instruments for their performance of Beethoven’s works.

Bösendorfer honour this great composer for his 250th birthday with the 2020 Edition of the Beethoven Model.

Every Bösendorfer piano reflects meticulous craftsmanship. Inspired by the construction of a violin, the Resonance Case Principle allows the entire body of the instrument — not just the soundboard — to contribute to sound production, creating exceptional richness of tone colour. Each string is individually attached with a handmade loop to improve tuning stability, while distinctive Bösendorfer bass strings, built around a steel core and wound with copper, produce the warm, sonorous bass for which the maker is renowned. An independent Capo d’Astro bar in the upper register enables extremely precise adjustment, while the open pinblock — formed from cross-grained layers of quarter-sawn maple set on a base of red beech — provides a stable foundation for the tuning pins and strings. Together, these elements reflect the enduring Viennese tradition of piano making and allow Bösendorfer instruments to reveal the finest nuances in the music you play.