The History of the Pianoforte - A Documentary by Eva and Paul Badura Skoda

A rediscovered treasure found in our archive as a gift for all lovers and interested friends of this incredible instrument. Now music lovers can see and hear the most remarkable pianofortes from the 300-year history of this versatile instrument. From the worlds oldest surviving piano (built in 1720 by Cristofori) to a new Bösendorfer Computer Grand, the entire family lineage is here. The painestakingly researched narrative includes some amazing discoveries, including documentations of Bach's having used the pianoforte publicly much earlier than hitherto believed. Pianists Paula Badura-Skoda, Malcolm Bilson, Jörg Demus, Gerlinde Otto, Hans Kann, Rudolf Scholz and others play more than 30 instruments. Musicologist Eva Badura-Skoda publishes extensively on the history of the piano and on performance - practice problems of the 18th and 19th centuries. A 90-minute documentary with the fascinating story of the piano and beautifully played demonstrations on famous instruments of three centuries.