Charles (Karel) Kadel was a native of Amsterdam, but settled in Brussels, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, shortly before 1827. Around that time he produced the table piano in our collection.
The instrument
Table pianos were particularly popular instruments in the 19th century. Not only were they more affordable than grand pianos, they were more practical: folded shut, they could be used as a table and fit perfectly into the salons of the bourgeoisie. In the mid-19th century, however, upright pianos became more popular, so the table piano increasingly faded into obscurity.
Commissioned by the museum, the instrument will be restored in 2024-2025 by Bart Houtgraaf and his company Pianos Andriessen (Haarlem). Pianist Thomas Boodts is an ambassador for the instrument.
Thomas Boodts © Frederik Beyens
The soundmaster
Since 2017, Thomas Boodts has been a familiar face at Museum Vleeshuis. He has extensive experience both on historical and contemporary instruments and is frequently invited as a piano accompanist for vocal performances, both for international auditions and singing competitions. In other words, the ideal person to be an ambassador for our Graf pianoforte.
The fact that Thomas presented his graduation project at the museum has only strengthened the bond between the sound master and the museum.
Biography
Thomas Boodts started his musical studies at the age of five, with violin lessons. After learning the piano from his father, he completed his training as a musician at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp.
He specialised in performances on historic instruments, with a focus on the early Romantic repertoire. Thomas took lessons and master classes in Italy (Piano Academy Imola) and following his studies also in Norway with Leif Ove Andsnes and Christian Ihle Hadland (Jiri Hlinka Piano Academy) and in Paris with Maciej Pikulski.
