Bechstein Marks 160th With Ornate Custom Piano

...literally glows with its abundance of gold leaf, delicate woodcarving, and miniature paintings after the style of Watteau. Inside the elaborate Louis XV case is a contemporary Bechstein CB B 212 model.

“The Golden Grand Piano recalls a glamorous era in the company’s history when we filled orders for crowned heads and famous artists,” said Karl Schulze, CEO of C. Bechstein Pianofortefabrik AG, Berlin. “It also demonstrates the brand’s return to its legendary strength. 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.”

Custom-built pianos by C. Bechstein today adorn stately homes, luxury yachts, and corporate headquarters. Before the Golden Grand Piano is delivered to its owner, it will be showcased in the Sanssouci Palace, the former residence of King Frederick the Great; and the Imperial Palace in the Forbidden City in Beijing.

In 1853, the master piano-maker Carl Bechstein, aged 27, opened a workshop in the cultural center 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.

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 one of Europe’s most important piano makers.

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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