Renowned Artists Compose on Blüthner Worldwide
Around the world, music lovers became aware of the instruments built by Julius Blüthner in Leipzig. Initially, Blüthner's strong connections to the artistic world came through the fortuitous prominence of the renowned Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig. Many famous composers and pianists of the day premiered their works in Leipzig and were thus welcome guests at the Blüthner factory and villa. These relationships provided a constant source of feedback and inspiration for Julius as he continued to pursue absolute perfection in piano tone and performance. His hard work and vision were rewarded, as Blüthner's own widening reputation for musical greatness carried the Blüthner instrument out to famous artists well beyond Leipzig. During their musical tours, the artists spread the word about these marvellous instruments. Within a few short years, the likes of Brahms, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Mahler, Moscheles, Nikisch, Rachmaninov, Schumann, and Tschaikovsky would be performing and composing primarily on Blüthner pianos. Debussy fell in love with his first Blüthner when he heard the resonance of the 4th string Aliquot. He would compose all his works on his Blüthner. Rachmaninov composed the larger body of his works in his younger years at the bench of his famous Blüthner grand.
Gewandhaus zu Leipzig 1900
Gewandhaus in Leipzig 1900.
Franz Liszt und Julius Blüthner
Franz Liszt and Julius Blüthner
Der behrühmte russische Sänger Fjodor Schaljapin wird am Blüthner-Flügel begleitet
The famous Russian singer Fjodor Schaljapin is accompanied on a Blüthner
Die behrühmte Sopranistin Elisabeth Schwarzkopf am Blüthner-Flügel bei einem Liederabend in Mailand
The famous soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf at the Blüthner piano at a ballad concert in Milan
Alfred Cortot hat die Franck Prélude, Aria et Finale in 1932 auf einem Blüthner-Flügel aufgenommen.
Alfred Cortot recording Franck's Prélude, Aria et Finale in 1932 on a Blüthner grand.
Der Gewandhauskapellmeister Arthur Nikisch mit seinem Sohn Mitja an zwei Blüthner-Flügeln
The Gewandhaus conductor Arthus Nikisch and his son Mitja with their two Blüthner grands
Debussy und sein Blüthner-Flügel mit Aliquot
Debussy and his Blüthner grand with Aliquot
Der Blüthner -Flügel von Claude Debussy
Claude Debussy's Blüthner grand piano
Sergei Rachmaninov und sein Blüthner-Flügel
Sergei Rachmaninoff and his Blüthner grand piano
Mahlers Blüthner-Flügel, Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, ca. 1902
Mahler's Blüthner grand, in the Vienna Kunsthistorische Museum, ca. 1902
Dmitri Schostakowitsch und sein Blüthner-Flügel
Dmitri Shostakovich at his Blüthner grand
Alexander Borowski, einer der weltberühmten Pianisten, die Blüthner speilen
Alexander Borowski, one of the world-famous pianists that played Blüthner
„Dieser Blüthner hatte den schönsten singenden Ton, den ich je gefunden habe. Ich war ganz begeistert und beschloss, die geliebte Barcarolle von Chopin zu spielen. Dieses Klavier inspirierte mich. Ich glaube, ich habe nie im Leben besser gespielt ... es schien, als werde der goldene Ton des Flügels ganz getreu wiedergegeben; von solch einem musizieren hatte ich geträumt. Ich gestehe, mir standen die Tränen in den Augen.“ Artur Rubinstein, „Mein glückliches Leben“
"Blüthner had the most beautiful singing tone I have ever found…the piano inspired me. I don’t think I ever played better in my life. And then the miracle happened; they played it back to me and I must confess that I had tears in my eyes. It was the performance that I dreamed of and the sound reproduced faithfully the golden tone of the piano.” Arthur Rubinstein, "My Many Years"
