Bösendorfer Imperial 97 key concert grand, restored in c2005; refinished in dark walnut.

[@frankmarter6845]

Finally someone who knows how to demonstrate a fine piano.

[@peter5.056]

OMG, the sound on that piano is DELICIOUS.

[@Mark959]

Yes! Bösendorfer make pianos so good that you can even taste the sound!!! 🤣

[@CowboyStag]

Very nice. Wish I had the money to buy happiness

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

The sounds throughout the entire piano is absolutely fantastic! Warm, yet exciting!

[@sashole1]

Thank you for your video(s), Markus, as usual. It caught my attention that you've mentioned Rubinstein vs Horowitz in terms of their action weight preferences. My theory of the latter preferring an extra-light action (confirmed by pianists who've played his own piano after his passing away) is three-fold. First, Horowitz was gifted with a rather extreme digital physique that allowed him to play prestissimo passages pianissimo. Second, he played with straight fingers extended further into the keys, so he needed a lighter action to compensate for the paucity of leverage. And third, from his childhood all the way through his graduation from the Kyiv Conservatory he had played almost exclusively patent action Blüthners (there was good reason for it); and even though later in the US he became a Steinway pianist, he might be inclined to tune his piano to more or less emulate the touch sensitivity he had gotten used to. Of course, all of the above are my (hopefully, somewhat reasonable) speculations.

[@gc134]

I had the WNG action installed in my NY Steinway B and I love it. 7 years out with daily playing and the regulation basing changes a bit. It’s amazingly fluid and responsive. The consistency and control is unmatched

[@matthewraden5210]

Wessell, Nickle and Gross is the same carbon-fiber action used on newer Mason & Hamlins.

[@dominellofrescobalino6895]

It is a great pleasure for me to see this great sounding instrument from Vienna! I'm always amazed with the expertise, accuracy, precision, material knowledge and commitment "you kiss" all these "lost" pianos back to life. It's more than an affair of the heart. This Bösendorfer Imperial is one such example of a Roberts restoration! Dear Mister Roberts: Listening and watching your many performances on these various pianos that have passed through your hands, you have given me wonderful minutes time and time again! Thank you very much for that! My best wishes and recommendations from the bottom of my heart! An admirer of your piano building skills from Vienna! -Stay safe and healthy! - PS: If you have the opportunity to hear András Schiff in the Wigmore Hall, that would be my recommendation! He likes to play not only in the Wigmore Hall, but also in the "Golden Hall" on a Bösendorfer Grand Piano in Vienna!

[@constiff]

WOW, the sound is so beautiful and melodic, the sustain and resonance is incredible!!

[@NickHollis21]

I've had the pleasure to work on and tune an imperial. They respond very beautifully and is my dream piano.

[@unequally-tempered]

I've tuned Bosendorfer before and I'd love to tune this one: the tuning would put this instrument's character and resonance on steroids. It's a very beautiful instrument and interesting to see the fishtail end rather like the wonderful sounding Bechsteins of the 1880s so admired for their musicality.

[@braxtonmcanally4088]

Where did you learn to tune pianos? I’d like to learn.

[@gcuthbertson1352]

I'm a little late to the party a year later, but I just got this video now. However, that is one gorgeous Imperial model, both in visual appeal, and sound. There' no mistaking that bass from all other pianos. I was happy to see the WNG composite parts as part of the upgrade, but from what I can see from my own experience the job was half done. Kudos for reusing the original hammers, which no doubt required some effort to do, as the shank diameter of the WNG composite shanks are much smaller than the original Renner wood shanks that was likely used. But I didn't see the new WNG back checks installed. While it might be considered an "option" to change on some pianos, no expense should have been spared on a Bosendorfer Imperial. I would have installed them to further enhance accuracy of performance. I can't see if the new WNG aluminum capstans have been installed to replace the brass ones, but that is also a very important part swap to significantly reduce friction. Of lesser consequence, I also would change the let off buttons with the WNG parts as well, which I did not see here due to camera angles not showing further details. But the part that really shows the job was half done is the "specs" section of the video for down weight etc. which reveal a touch weight that is not only heavier than what it should be, but also too erratic to be considered "even" across the keyboard. If the David Stanwood "Precision Touch Design" (PTD) was not used, then a MAJOR portion of the work was left undone. For those unfamiliar with this work, it involves weighing every part (hammer strike weight, repetition weight, key ratio, front weight - the weight of the front end of the key from the fulcrum, and other such parameters) and plotting the results on graphs to see where various touch weight problems are. From the data recorded from the "original" condition, the final results are calculated so that the hammer strike weight is a perfectly smooth curve across the keyboard which then computes what the front weight of the keys should be. All weights are measured on a digital scale with 0.1 gram tolerances, and all parts are adjusted to match the calculated results. Ideally the Down Weight should be about 52 grams in the bass tapering to 48 grams in the top treble on grand pianos. Any lighter than this makes the piano "run away" under your fingers, but any heavier (55+ grams) makes the piano "fight back" under extremely heavy and fast playing, which only serves to produce fatigue and reduce stamina. A keyboard should be "invisible" between the music you hear in your head and what you hear when you play. In other words, the musical thoughts in your mind should be instantly heard when you play, and the keyboard simply relays that process effortlessly. Furthermore, the regulation on this Bosendorfer looks poorly done, as the hammer line is all over the place and not level. Again, in all fairness, I'd have to see it in person to evaluate it further, but what I see in the video has tell tale signs of less than perfect regulation. A special regulation bench jig that has been carefully set up based on the measured string heights inside the piano should be used for the most accurate regulation that would produce perfectly straight hammer lines at rest position etc. I know all this because I did the work on my own 1915 Steinway D back in 2020 when I converted the action from the previous wooden Renner action (which gave me untold grief with heavy Down Weight and inertia issues) to the WNG composite action with the Stanwood protocols of action balancing. It is now the smoothest and most responsive action possible, and makes all other actions feel like a Mac truck. The WNG parts reduce the usual friction points on all the action parts to nearly zero, and holds it indefinitely with the proprietary hard bushings that replaced the felt bushings typically found in all other actions. Besides the superior advantages that the composite parts have over wooden parts for structural stability in all the fluctuating humidity conditions throughout the seasons, these hard bushings guarantee the longest trouble-free lifespan of performance and nearly indefinite regulation stability. So while I applaud the use of WNG parts whole heartedly, the job appears half done to reap the full benefit of an action overhaul. I write this not as any form of criticism (as I know how much precision work this all entails), but to further educate what is available to enhance the performance even further, as many pianists and piano technicians are still unaware of the latest developments in action rebuilding. In fact, the Stanwood PTD protocols is in my estimation more important to the way a piano feels and performs than what actual parts are used, because it can be applied to both wood and composite actions. I've done both, as it is not always in the budget to convert the action to the WNG parts beforehand. The transformation of an action with the PTD is at times miraculous with wooden actions, and with the WNG parts included the results are incomparable.

[@RobertsPianos]

Thank you for you comprehensive and helpful comment. This WNG action was installed by another British firm; we haven't installed one ourselves yet but if we do we wil pay close attention to your advice. Marcus

[@Sasty]

my dream piano pretty much

[@cdllc1956]

You can get one! I recently bought a Blüthner modell 1 (concert) for under 34.000€

[@Sasty]

@@cdllc1956 Oh okay, cheaper than i expected, thanks. The problem is i'm living in an appartment so i can't really own a grand piano right now

[@cdllc1956]

@@Sasty Oh that sucks! I hope you will get this piano at some point in time

[@Sasty]

@@cdllc1956 Thanks!

[@cdllc1956]

@@Sasty Yee good luck !

[@CharlesLangSamuel]

Just your ordinary neighborhood piano shop . . . 💙 Wow what a delightful surprise to see the WNG action in there. Vienna and Sacramento partnership.

[@gracelove886]

What a beautiful piano

[@qiqi2692]

Wonderful acoustics

[@islaadele1212]

Just beautiful.

[@MrJelsings]

Wished I lived in the UK! Great options for purchasing a piano. Where I am in USA - S. FL . Yamaha and Chinese brands are about the only options. I've been watching for a great European brand for some time.

[@cablenelsonbabygrandpiano842]

Beautiful!

[@starlightgrecording559]

Gerard Stroh*** Reberts Pianos!!! This is The Best Looking Bosendorfer Imperial 97 Key Piano I Have Ever seen on KZbin and I still Say They Are The Best Pianos in the World*** I never Seen one Like this Before and I Bet Bach Fugue sound Awesome on this Piano!!! I Play Piano Too*** Good Video!!!

[@pierrelaurent9699]

Ce piano sonne merveilleusement.

[@peter5.056]

I don't usually salivate at the sight of a piano, but this one got me going. 🤤

[@watthaile2053]

Lovely piano indeed.

[@gadymarcus5297]

magnificent.

[@kyrvhy]

Stunner.

[@brandoncallaway2619]

The carbon fiber action parts are something that Kawai brought into vogue from my understanding. Although Ive heard others say there's no difference in terms of feel, for some reason other manufacturers don't seem to have gotten on board. Any reason why from your perspective? Also, I notice the piano is situated near that big floor vent. Is that where the piano is kept routinely or just for performances?

[@DrChaad]

Are the pinstripes painted or inlaid ?

[@morriswr01]

Anyone know what piece is being played around 11 mins? Sounds a lot like Schubert but I may be wrong.

[@vicensk270]

5:03 The first note tone!

[@vicensk270]

4:31

[@nhickification]

That is one gorgeous baby!

[@MCHEATH]

Has it been rebuilt by Hurstwood Farm? A lovely piano indeed.

[@nathanmancarella5355]

May I ask who the restorer was and or the company/business?

[@oscarwindham6016]

WOW!

[@studentjohn35]

Notice that only the top octaves have individual hitch pins for each treble wire. Weren't there some years that that ty did that right down to break to the copper wound strings? Or am i confusing this with Bechstein?

[@mehere779]

Don't know if it's just a characteristic of the Imperial models, but my M200 (1991) does have individual hitch pins, as you say, all the way down to the wound strings. I think the modern budget versions (that is "budget" by Boesendorfer standards) don't have them at all. Not sure it makes much difference unless you are in the habit of breaking strings.

[@maazzafar2822]

What is this veneer called?

[@rednerp]

What is the weighting of the keys in piano competitions I wonder. They obviously can't wheel different pianos in & out for each competitor's preference (or re-weight on the fly.) Is there a 'standard' for this sort of thing?

[@tompianohotmail]

They do have several pianos for the big ones from which the competitors can choose - the Chopin competition had a Yamaha, Fazioli, Kawai and 2 Steinways this year and they wheel them on and off in between performers.

[@glisztliszt2854]

Jesus that would be my dream

[@clyneheretic]

The favoured choice of Oscar Peterson, Victor Borge and Valentina Lisitsa.- says it all, really.

[@matthewraden5210]

When was the piano built? I know it was restored in 2005.

[@pianoboogie51]

Made in 1978

[@matthewraden5210]

@@pianoboogie51 interesting. It’s voiced very mellow, more like a model from the 1920’s.

[@TheGaetanomariadigio]

Nooo! Giant obscure

[@JoeLinux2000]

It does seem expressive. Tuning is marginal.

[@shandfan]

Bösendorfer Grands sound best if voiced hard in the 2 striped octave.Sadly most of these instruments are voiced/needled TO DEATH. All those technicians having not a hearing to that!!!!!!

[@RobertsPianos]

Interesting; thanks for the comment. Marcus

[@shandfan]

@@RobertsPianos I can refer you to some LP's,one of them is the CBS LP by Raymond Truard,playing encores and a 45 EP of Liszt's piano Concerto no 1 by a Vienna Orchestra and soloist Orazio Frugonie.Bösendorfer sounds best with this hard intonation in the //octave..Better than all other brands of grants.Hope you 'll be able to hear this.Please,have a try!

[@1MSally1965]

No offense but please have someone narrate this who doesn’t slurp constantly when they speak. Nauseating.

[@RobertsPianos]

Thank you so much for having the courage to share that. It's so important that we have comments like this so we can correct and improve. I am aware that the sound quality could be bettered. Can you explain a bit more what you mean by slurping? If you prefer, you could write to us [e-mail]. Really appreciate your comment and look forward to an explanation that will allow us to get better! Marcus