Bösendorfer Dealers, Yamaha Managers Get First-Hand Look at Bösendorfer Tradition and Craftsmanship on Trip to Vienna
BUENA PARK, Calif. (PRWEB) June 05, 2015 -- A contingent of Bösendorfer dealers were treated to an immersive trip into the Austrian music tradition, joining members of Yamaha Corporation of America’s management team for a visit to Vienna last month.
The six-day trip included a visit to the Bösendorfer factory in Wiener Neustadt, located south of Vienna, where about 100 highly-skilled piano craftsmen and concert technicians hand-make only about 300 pianos a year.
In addition to meetings with some of their European counterparts, including the Bösendorfer distribution and service teams, the Bösendorfer dealers and Yamaha managers from the U.S. were treated to sightseeing tours focused on the cultural heritage of the company, a sampling of Austria’s cuisine and live musical performances, including a concert of “The Philharmonics” in the Konzerthaus Vienna at the center of the city and its unique, vibrant music scene.
“This wonderful trip gave us all a much richer, deeper understanding and appreciation of the Bösendorfer legacy, which consists of unmatched craftsmanship and signature Viennese sound quality,” said Dan Rodowicz, Institutional Channel Manager for Yamaha Corporation of America (YCA.) “We gained a great deal from experiencing first-hand all that goes into creating these remarkable pianos, which can only complement our work back home in the United States as we market, sell, service and support Bösendorfer pianos to individuals and institutions.”
When Yamaha purchased Bösendorfer in 2008, many in the music world and devotees of the legendary piano wondered if the acquisition by a global Japanese company would lead to a change in the quality craftsmanship, sought-after sound and storied Austrian tradition associated with the Bösendorfer brand for nearly 200 years.
What became even clearer to the dealers and YCA managers that made the trip is how under Yamaha, the Bösendorfer company and each premium piano it produces have in fact become even more Austrian.
“Not only was this a lot of fun and an incredible glimpse into Austrian culture and history, but the trip underscored how Yamaha has painstakingly worked to not only preserve but also build upon Bösendorfer’s legacy of unmatched craftsmanship and signature Viennese sound quality over the past half-dozen years or so,” explained Simon Oss, YCA’s premium piano marketing manager.
When the acquisition was finalized just over six years ago, Yamaha publicly pledged to preserve the traditional design and manufacturing of Bösendorfer pianos, and to use its own vast resources to help Bösendorfer grow as both a highly coveted piano for professional musicians around the world and as a symbol of Vienna’s musical culture and heritage.
Bösendorfer, which consists of eight models of grand pianos, including the Imperial Grand, one of the world’s largest, and two upright models, today are made using the same design and manufacturing principles the company has employed for the past 186 years, unchanged under Yamaha’s leadership. Additionally, the cast iron frame that had been outsourced for years before the acquisition is now made right in Austria.
Among the many highlights of the trip was a presentation on new developments within the Bösendorfer model 280, a concert grand that benefits from many new technical features while respecting Bösendorfer centuries-old musical heritage.
Hailed as the beginning of a new era in Bösendorfer instruments, the 280 concert grand easily holds its own against the power of a large orchestra but also has all the sensitivity to offer compassionate accompaniment in chamber music. In the bass, it has a clarity and fundamental tone that no instrument has achieved before.
According to the Bösendorfer dealers and YCA managers, another highlight of the trip was the concert that featured a surprise performance at the iconic Bösendorfer Hall by Austrian-born Paul Badura-Skoda, considered one of the most important pianists of our time.
Chris Syllaba, President & CEO of Jordan Kitt's Music, the oldest piano dealership in the metro Washington, D.C. area, viewed the visit as both enjoyable and invaluable.
"The trip to the Bösendorfer factory in Vienna was a wonderful opportunity to see first-hand how these exquisite instruments are being crafted in one of the most musically important cities in the world,’ Syllaba said. “The Vienna visit was also an excellent opportunity to network with other dealers, industry representatives and musicians."
Another dealer, Maurice Unis of Classic Pianos of Portland, agreed. “Our trip to Vienna and the Bösendorfer factory greatly enhanced our understanding and appreciation of how very special the Bösendorfer piano is and how exceptional the people are who make, promote, and perform on this piano,” Unis said. “The Bösendorfer staff and artists were welcoming and very informative about the uniqueness of the piano's materials and manufacturing techniques that make the piano sing. Now more than ever, we can feel the artistry and passion that goes into making the Bösendorfer and have more tools now to present to our customers.”
For more information about Bösendorfer pianos, visit http://4wrd.it/BOSENDORFERTOUR.
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About Bösendorfer
Bösendorfer was founded in 1828 and has been the instrument of choice for many of the world’s most famous artists and composers. This limited production, handcrafted instrument remains one of the most sought after instruments for musicians, institutions and piano enthusiasts worldwide.
About Yamaha
Yamaha Corporation of America (YCA) is one of the largest subsidiaries of Yamaha Corporation, Japan and offers a full line of award-winning musical instruments, sound reinforcement and home entertainment products to the U.S. market. Products include: Yamaha acoustic, digital and hybrid pianos, portable keyboards, guitars, acoustic and electronic drums, band and orchestral instruments, marching percussion products, synthesizers, professional digital and analog audio equipment, Steinberg recording products and Nexo commercial audio products, as well as AV receivers, amplifiers, Blu-ray/CD players, iPod docking systems, home-theater-in-a-box systems, earphones, headphones, sound bars, and its exclusive line of Digital Sound Projectors. YCA markets innovative, finely crafted technology and entertainment products and musical instruments targeted to the hobbyist, education, worship, professional music, installation and consumer markets.
Peter Giles, Giles Communications, +1 (914) 798-7120, [email protected]
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