Recordings of historical pianists

This extraordinary recording event took place during March 2007 at veteran pianist Paul Badura-Skoda's recording studio in Vienna. It's extraordinary because the artists being recorded on a 2006 Bösendorfer Imperial grand piano were all deceased, having recorded their art on Ampico reproducing piano rolls.

Instead of actual rolls, MIDI files (available on this website) were used to play the instrument, which was fitted with Bösendorfer's newly developed computerised MIDI mechanical player system, called the CEUS.

The result is a set of 12 CDs of classical works involving 62 concert pianists, 28 from the "Golden Age", playing 166 works by 46 composers on 174 tracks.

The exceptional capability of the Bösendorfer instrument has brought these historic performances to new highs, hence our claim 'Ampico rolls as you have never heard them before'. Pianists include Brailowsky, Dohnányi, Kreisler, Lhévinne, Levitzki, Nyiregyhazi, Rachmaninoff.

Obtaining the recordings
1. A full set of MP3 files with booklet artwork is available from our shop

2. CDs and individual tracks are available from the Naxos Classicsonline service