The Voice of an Artist Clothed in Rococo Luxury: The Golden Grand Piano is Quite Probably the World’s Most Luxurious and Precious Grand Piano
C. Bechstein, one of Germany’s most historic and at the same time most modern piano-makers, a company that has a list of clients including royalty, the great and the good have possibly surpassed all previous achievements by creating what can undoubtedly be classed as the world’s most luxurious piano. To celebrate this iconic company’s 160th anniversary they’ve built a unique masterpiece, the Golden Grand Piano, a sumptuously ornamented instrument made by master craftsmen and artists using the most exquisite materials.
This incredible piece of instrumental art glows with a regal aura, a piece that embraces the finest design periods, a piano that cossets your heart at first glance. With intricately applied rich gold leaf, painstaking woodcarving, and elegant miniature paintings after the style of Watteau all embracing an outstanding acoustic design. Within the piano’s elaborate Louis XV case beats the young heart of a modern C. Bechstein grand piano: the CB B 212 model, a renowned piece of acoustic engineering and craftsmanship, made specifically for professional artists.
“The Golden Grand Piano recalls a glamorous era in the company’s history when we filled orders for crowned heads and famous artists. It also demonstrates the brand’s return to its legendary strength,” said Karl Schulze, CEO of C. Bechstein Pianofortefabrik AG, Berlin. “We have built it after the specifications of a 19th-century masterpiece made by Carl Bechstein himself for the royal court of England. This instrument is the epitome of craftsmanship and creativity – a fitting homage to the grand seigneur of piano-making.”
It took three years of work from highly experienced craftspeople to create the Golden Grand Piano, the C. Bechstein staff demonstrated skills that few craftsmen still master today: precious woods were selected, patiently cured and delicately shaped; filigree ornaments carved of solid walnut were richly finished in gold leaf; special lacquers were produced from traditional recipes and applied layer by layer to create the miniature paintings.
The touch of this unique instrument is just as luxurious as its ornamentation: the perfectly balanced action responds to every nuance of the pianist’s playing. For all its majestic appearance, the ultramodern Golden Grand Piano submits completely to the musician’s control, expressing every intention in the rich colours of the famous Bechstein sound.
Custom-built pianos by C. Bechstein today adorn stately homes, luxury yachts, and corporate headquarters. Just as Patek Phillipe, Rolls-Royce, Van Cleef & Arpels and Fabergé are synonymous with the highest levels of luxury and craftsmanship, so are the exquisite products from C. Bechstein.
Before the Golden Grand Piano is delivered to its owner, it will travel to spectacular sites: Sanssouci Palace, the former residence of King Frederick the Great; and the Imperial Palace in the Forbidden City in Beijing — places dedicated to enduring art and culture, not to passing fads and fashions.
160 Years of C. Bechstein
Pianofortefabrik, Berlin In 1853, the master piano-maker Carl Bechstein, aged 27, opened a workshop in the cultural centre of Berlin. He cultivated friendships with the great composers of the day, listened to their ideas and created instruments that would allow them to express their dreams in a new piano sound. Many famous pieces of piano music date from this time. C. Bechstein grand and upright pianos adorned the music rooms of great composers and pianists, and the Berlin piano-maker grew famous in his own right. Soon Carl Bechstein was appointed to supply instruments to the courts of kings and emperors. For Queen Victoria of England, he created a golden grand piano in the Louis XV style, decorated with miniature paintings after Watteau.
In the 19th century, the piano was an indispensable part of life. But of the countless European piano builders — there were nearly 300 in Berlin alone — only a few would stand the test of time. Bechstein, however, produces almost as many instruments today as it did in the golden age of the piano. Since then, the company’s history has been one of many high points, but with some lows as well. When the German master piano-maker Karl Schulze bought Bechstein in 1986, the ailing company was in need of a stable financial footing before it could position its brand in the top market segment once again. Today, Bechstein is Europe’s most important manufacturer of quality grand and upright pianos.
The production site located in Seifhennersdorf, Saxony, sets worldwide standards. Engineers, acoustics specialists and concert technicians, using choice materials and state-of-the-art technology, constantly refine the complex manufacturing methods for the C. Bechstein masterpieces. In 2013, Bechstein underscores its commitment to upholding the legacy of its founder, Carl Bechstein. With masterful craftsmanship and advanced technology, the company’s piano-makers have re-created the precious golden rococo grand piano once built for the court of Queen Victoria.
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