An auction house in Oakland, CA will be selling the 1896 custom-designed Bosendorfer owned by Johann Strauss on September 9: http://www.clars.com/archive/year_2007/Sep2007/na_specialcollections_b.html Lot# 6318 For the first time in recent memory, a piano owned and played by a major classical composer will come to an auction block anywhere in the world. Johann Strauss IIs (1825-1899) original piano, a Bösendorfer, recently made the journey from the Historical Museum of Vienna, Austria to Clars, a regional auction gallery and will sell the grand piano in early September 2007 on behalf of Strauss heirs, who reside in the Bay Area Not only was the piano a key element to Strausss success, but it also comes with a rich history. Strauss, the famed composer and conductor known as The King of the Waltz, began composing and conducting at an early age, stepping in when his father, famed composer and violinist Johann Strauss I, died in 1849 at the age of 45. In 1896, Ludwig Bösendorfer presented his dear friend Johann Strauss with the gift of a Bösendorfer custom-made grand piano. Amazingly, the original paperwork, including a pro-forma bill of sale from the Bösendorfer Piano Company and Strauss signature confirming receipt of the gift, has remained with the piano for over 100 years. Unfortunately, no details are provided as to the condition of the piano. The pre-sale estimate is between $50,000 and $100,000, though said it may go for 7 figures given the pianos historical significance. Rob Mitchell Piano Service www.mitchellpianoservice.com (415) 994-1030 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20070831/218c4030/attachment.html
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