Conrad Graf (1782-1851) started his career as a cabinetmaker, but moved to Vienna in 1799 where he retrained as a piano maker. His career switch was perfectly timed, because around 1800 a lot of music lovers wanted to replace their old harpsichords with the innovative pianofortes. Graf emerged as one of the finest piano makers of the early 19th century, building pianos on an almost industrial scale in his workshop. He was assisted by an army of craftsmen. Moreover, Graf had a knack for marketing. He was only too happy to lend his pianos out to major artists, as they added cachet to his instruments. Composers such as Clara and Robert Schumann, Czerny, Mendelssohn, Liszt, Chopin and Brahms all played on a Graf or owned one at some point.
The instrument
The pianoforte in Museum Vleeshuis is owned by the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp and was added to the collection as a permanent loan in 1967. The instrument is almost identical to the pianoforte loaned by Graf to Ludwig van Beethoven.
The Graf pianoforte was restored by Christopher Clarke, and a second time by Jan Van den Hemel. As a result, this is now one of the few remaining working instruments produced by Graf. Of the more than 3,000 instruments built by Conrad Graf, barely 60 or so have survived and only a handful are playable. Among others, Jos van Immerseel, Lambert Orkis and piano duo Nicolas Callot / Lucas Blondeel have made recordings on this instrument. For many musicians, playing the Graf grand piano was a game-changer.
"My interest in the pianoforte didn't take off until I made recordings on a Graf grand piano in 1973/74 at Museum Vleeshuis here in Antwerp. The instrument becomes a second score, relaying information to you."
Jos van Immerseel
