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Austrian piano manufacturing firm based in Vienna.

The firm was founded in 1828 by Ignaz Bösendorfer (1796-1859). Liszt's approval of its instruments brought it international fame, and in 1830 the firm was granted the title kaiserlicher und königlicher Hof- und Kammerklavierverfertiger (Imperial and Royal Court and Chamber Piano Manufacturer). Ignaz's son, Ludwig Bösendorfer (1835-1919), took over the business in 1859, bringing the company to its highest point of achievement with the distinctive Viennese action of its (largely grand) pianos, and resisting the mass-production methods of other manufacturers.

The firm moved to its new factory in the Türkenstraße, in the 9th district of Vienna (Alsergrund), in 1860, which had a concert hall attached. In 1870, the manufacturing side of the business relocated to Graf Starhemberggasse 14, in Vienna's 4th district (Wieden), and the retail side to the Palais Liechtenstein, in the Herrengasse, in the 1st district (Innere Stadt). The riding school of the latter premises was converted to a concert hall, which as the Bösendorfer-Saal was one of Vienna's most highly-prized halls for solo recitals and chamber music from 1872 until demolished in 1913 to make way for a larger building project.

Ludwig sold the firm to Carl Hutterstrasser in 1909, whose sons, Alexander and Wolfgang, succeeded Carl in 1931. The company was purchased by the parent company of Kimbell Pianos in 1966, and since 2007 has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Yamaha. The current Bösendorfer-Saal is on the Graf Starhemberggasse site.

Sources:

  • NGDM1 and 2
  • OeML Online

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