BÖSENDORFER NEW YORK SAYS GOOD-BYE
AN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION TURNS INTO A FAREWELL
New York City, May 2008 – Bösendorfer New York announces with great regret the closing of its showroom at the New York Design Center. The planned celebration, the 5th Anniversary of, what many, including the manufacturer, referred to Bösendorfer’s “flagship showroom,” - turns now into a farewell.
Renowned for its excellence in presentation, highest level of customer service, unsurpassed knowledge of the brand – its history, the internal workings of the company and of course the making of the piano, Bösendorfer New York, its founders and its team had set a new standard in the industry. Particularly, its active concert program had generated an ever-growing following among performing artists, established as well as up and coming, including students and teachers alike. Recreational pianists, private owners and many music lovers had found a seasonal meeting place in Bösendorfer New York’s Salon. To quote two of the many concerned responses: “This is tragically horrible news”… “What loss to the Bösendorfer Company and Bösendorfer community.”
Despite industry information which questioned the fate of the Bösendorfer piano already during the bidding process, the founders and owners of Bösendorfer New York had optimism for a new direction with Yamaha’s acquisition of Bösendorfer. They looked forward to delivering their input and knowledge, to turning the ailing manufacturer around and had hoped their distinguished and highly commended flagship-showroom would finally receive the recognition and support of the manufacturer. After all, contrary to initial plan and request by the founders to the manufacturer, and contrary to public belief, Bösendorfer New York, its Public Relations and Artist Relations activities and even the venue creation in New York City, were funded solely by its owners and not by the manufacturer.
With the acquisition of Bösendorfer by Yamaha, the team of Bösendorfer New York immediately reached out to the new ownership of the manufacturer, to present itself, its projects, activities and plans for this most significant of years – 2008 is after all the 180th Anniversary of Bösendorfer. There were even plans for a hallmark showroom included –however, the requested meeting with the new representatives never occurred. While a visit to New York took place, a visit to Bösendorfer New York never happened. The only communication received was the termination of the contract, signed by the new CEO.
Lisa Feldmann, founder and co-owner of Bösendorfer New York: “What is most disturbing to us, is that this vortex we have created for Bösendorfer in New York City, a vortex of global reach, is just being discarded – together with the network of new owners, artists and aficionados; but most importantly, the knowledge and vast experience of our technical department. What does this mean for the future of the Bösendorfer piano…?”
While Bösendorfer New York will cease to exist, Gerhard Feldmann Grand Piano Works, in business for 15 years, will continue serving not only the Tri-State area but clients across the country as well as in Europe: maintenance, repair and restoration of exceptional concert grands, working very closely with the artist and the connoisseur and continuing its relationship with the foremost venues.
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Gerhard Feldmann, co-owner and technical director of Bösendorfer New York, a concert technician and piano maker of international renown, whose profound involvement with pianos now spans more than 35 years, began his career as an apprentice at the Bösendorfer piano factory in Vienna, Austria. Mr. Feldmann has travelled the world as a Bösendorfer concert technician and he is a groundbreaking specialist in action work, tuning, voicing and restoration, and has worked with all major concert pianists and concert venues. Mr. Feldmann had a longstanding history with Bösendorfer and was considered one of the company’s greatest champions as well as one of its prized assets. Mr. Feldmann is looking forward to sharing his deep knowledge with a manufacturer appreciative of his vast skill and commitment, and to apply his findings to other brands of potential – and of course to continue working on the pianos of his many international clients.
Bösendorfer New York was the first exclusive Bösendorfer showroom outside of Vienna, Austria, where the legendary piano manufacturer was originally founded in 1828. Located in the heart of Manhattan at 200 Lexington Avenue, also known as the New York Design Center, Bösendorfer New York was the showcase for a collection of the utmost handcrafted instruments revered around the world. Opened in May 2003, Bösendorfer New York was dedicated to representing the highest quality Austrian design and craftsmanship - as exemplified by Bösendorfer pianos and the new dimension in unsurpassed sound: the Bösendorfer loudspeakers - through a commitment to excellence in presentation, care and maintenance. The most recent addition to the Bösendorfer line, the absolute dimension in piano artistry, the Bösendorfer CEUSS, was launched May 2007. The 5th Anniversary in 2008, coinciding with 180 years of Bösendorfer, was planned among other exceptional activities throughout the year, to introduce the satellite of the CEUSS, the Bösendorfer MASTER.
