Wigmore Hall presents its new instrument, a fortepiano by Paul McNulty after Graf, FF-f4, ca 1819.

Conrad Graf, (1782 - 1851), who had from 1824 the title of “Imperial Royal Court Fortepiano Maker” (" k. k. Hofpiano- und Claviermacher”), was born in Riedlingen (Wurttemberg) and came to Vienna in 1799 as a joiner. He became a piano builder and opened his own workshop in 1804. Very soon his instruments were considered "the greatest and most renowned in Vienna and throughout the empire.” Graf not only supplied instruments to all the apartments of the imperial court but also provided a pianoforte for Ludwig van Beethoven in 1825. Chopin, Robert and Clara Schumann, Liszt and Mendelssohn held Graf pianos in the highest esteem.

The McNulty instrument is a copy of Graf opus 318 (ca.1819) from Castle Kozel near Pilzn, Czech Republic. In this period the pianos of Graf still retained the thin soundboard and light hammers of the Viennese classical era, with somewhat thicker strings. The fuller tone is nonetheless clear and projecting, which, coupled with the various expression stops, provides a convincing Schubertian palette. These pedal effects are: moderator, double moderator, sustaining and "una corda."

Graf is the ultimate instrument for Schubert and late Beethoven, also for early Chopin (before Paris) It is also possible to use it for a bit later repertoire.

The Graf fortepiano is available to hire now.
For hire enquires, please contact [email protected]

Trio Goya are playing an excerpt from Scherzo. Allegro (third movement) from Schubert Piano Trio No. 1 in B flat D898.