Bosendorfer Pianos - A Guide to Piano Brands
Name of Piano Brand:
Bosendorfer, named after Ignaz Bösendorfer, an Austrian musician who founded this piano manufacturing company.
Year Started:
Ignaz Bösendorfer was granted a trade license number on July 25 1828. This enabled him to start a piano manufacturing company in Vienna.
Early Awards Won:
1839 - Received the "Imperial and Royal Court and Chamber Piano Manufacturer" award from the Austrian emperor.
1839 - Won the gold medal and first prize at the Industrial Exhibition in Vienna for their grand pianos.
1845 - Once again won the gold medal and first prize at the Industrial Exhibition in Vienna for their grand pianos.
1927 - Won the Grand Prix in Geneva for their grand piano.
1936 - Won first prize on a competition held by the British Broadcasting Company. Thus, the BBC ordered pianos from Bosendorfer for use in all their British studios.
Notable People Who Used a Bosendorfer Piano:
Franz Liszt
Johann Strauss
Anton Rubinstein
Notable Models:
They are famous for their grand pianos and their Imperial grands. Also notable are the Bosendorfer Model 170 and Model 200.
Newer Products:
Bösendorfer 290SE, a computer grand was introduced in 1986, the Model 225, designed by Hans Hollein, was unveiled in 1990. You can see this model at the Westin Grand Bohemian Hotel in Orlando, Florida. In 1996 a limited number of their Millennium I model were created to celebrate the "1000 Years of Austria". In 1998, they introduced their special model in honor of the great composer Frederic Chopin.
Another notable model is the 280 Concert Grand.
Interesting Fact:
When Ignaz Bösendorfer died in 1859, his son, Ludwig Bösendorfer, took over the business. Ludwig was also a gifted musician. In 1860. the Bosendorfer piano company moved to Neu Wien, Vienna. In 1869, the company once again moved to Graf Starhemberg-Gasse, this is where they manufacture pianos to this day. In 1870 the company expanded, offering their pianos to Rio, Stockholm, Hong Kong and Japan. Carl Hutterstrasser, a composer and friend of Ludwig, took over the company in 1909. Ludwig died in 1919.
Did You Know?:
In 1873, the Austrian Emperor ordered a Borsendorfer grand piano for Empress Elisabeth. Other notable owners of Bosendorfer grands at that time were the Czar of Russia, the Emperor of Japan and Empress Eugenie of France.
In 1966, the president of Kimball International Inc. (maker of Kimball pianos), Arnold F. Habig, bought the Bosendorfer piano company. In 2002, the BAWAG-P.S.K. Group, an Austrian company, bought Bosendorfer from Kimball. They still own the company to this day.
Company Website:
Visit them at Bosendorfer.Com
Bosendorfer, named after Ignaz Bösendorfer, an Austrian musician who founded this piano manufacturing company.
Year Started:
Ignaz Bösendorfer was granted a trade license number on July 25 1828. This enabled him to start a piano manufacturing company in Vienna.
Early Awards Won:
Notable People Who Used a Bosendorfer Piano:
Notable Models:
They are famous for their grand pianos and their Imperial grands. Also notable are the Bosendorfer Model 170 and Model 200.
Newer Products:
Bösendorfer 290SE, a computer grand was introduced in 1986, the Model 225, designed by Hans Hollein, was unveiled in 1990. You can see this model at the Westin Grand Bohemian Hotel in Orlando, Florida. In 1996 a limited number of their Millennium I model were created to celebrate the "1000 Years of Austria". In 1998, they introduced their special model in honor of the great composer Frederic Chopin.
Another notable model is the 280 Concert Grand.
Interesting Fact:
When Ignaz Bösendorfer died in 1859, his son, Ludwig Bösendorfer, took over the business. Ludwig was also a gifted musician. In 1860. the Bosendorfer piano company moved to Neu Wien, Vienna. In 1869, the company once again moved to Graf Starhemberg-Gasse, this is where they manufacture pianos to this day. In 1870 the company expanded, offering their pianos to Rio, Stockholm, Hong Kong and Japan. Carl Hutterstrasser, a composer and friend of Ludwig, took over the company in 1909. Ludwig died in 1919.
Did You Know?:
In 1873, the Austrian Emperor ordered a Borsendorfer grand piano for Empress Elisabeth. Other notable owners of Bosendorfer grands at that time were the Czar of Russia, the Emperor of Japan and Empress Eugenie of France.
In 1966, the president of Kimball International Inc. (maker of Kimball pianos), Arnold F. Habig, bought the Bosendorfer piano company. In 2002, the BAWAG-P.S.K. Group, an Austrian company, bought Bosendorfer from Kimball. They still own the company to this day.
Company Website:
Visit them at Bosendorfer.Com
