Theatr Mwldan is showing Pianomania, an inspirational documentary about the pursuit of musical excellence, from Monday 8th November.
The award-winning film follows Stefan Knüpfer, Steinway & Sons’ Master Tuner in Vienna, as he works with some of the world’s best-known concert pianists, including Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Lang Lang and Alfred Brendel. Warm, and at times gently humorous, the film demonstrates how unsung hero Knüpfer is pivotal to realising the vision of each virtuoso. With some fascinating rehearsal and music recording footage that cameras are rarely allowed to capture, Pianomania reveals the art, the science and the passion behind the search for perfection.
The collaborative work between Pierre-Laurent Aimard and Stefan Knüpfer is at the center of the film. Bach’s “The Art of Fugue“ is to be recorded. Pierre-Laurent Aimard has decided in favor of concert grand Nr. 109 for the Bach recording. But as fate will have it, the number 109 grand piano is sold to Australia a few months later; and that is not the last obstacle that gets in their way. Knüpfer wants to study instruments from the time of Bach for Aimard. He experiments with sound absorbers made from felt and with glass sound mirrors. The road toward the pianist’s longed for “bravo” is long, every piano has its own personality, every composition demands specific tone colors and every artist has an individual temperament and a vision. Knüpfer and Aimard meet regularly, and when the tension is so thick it can be cut with a knife, Knüpfer saves the day with his sense of humor. Stefan Knüpfer is a communications wizard; but he is also a technician who assembles, tightens, and fine tunes. He works with all his senses and produces pianos that give artists wings. Pianomania observes Knüpfer’s search for the perfect tone, from the interior of the instrument to the exterior, and in the full concert hall.
The sound recording of the film was made with the greatest possible effort, with all the scenes recorded in Dolby Surround quality and on up to 90 separate sound tracks. Pianomania is therefore a veritable “Ear Opener”, an acoustic jewel and, last but not least, a valuable contemporary document of our time.
See Pianomania at Theatr Mwldan on November 8 & 9 at 5.20, and November 10 & 11 at 7.20pm. To book, go to www.mwldan.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01239 621200.
