Bosendorfer UK offers piano recording facilities of a unique kind and has produced CD records, and lately, video recordings for many of its musicians. Some of these are for promotional purposes or for candidates entry to international competitions, but others are additions to our Young Maestros Label. Young Maestro recordings is one of the means by which we sponsor talented artists.

Artists using our Bosendorfer S.E. Imperial may make recordings, alone in the concert hall, without engineers or managers after a minimal briefing. When the desired works are 'recorded', and after their own listening tests, the artist leaves. The sound recordings are made later by the recording engineers without the artist having to return, using the computer reproducing facility of the piano.

This unique methodology is more economical to operate because each specialty devotes time only to their essential contribution. Traditional methods also tend to pressurize the artist.

Most of the famous artists who play here permit us to retain the computer record of all or part of their recital. There is a big element of trust in this. We hold a unique collection of nearly fifty such performances by these grand masters plus many more by Young Maestros who themselves will one day be "Grand Masters". If artists withhold permission, the computer records are destroyed immediately. The archive is kept under electronic surveillance protection and never leaves the control of Hurstwood Farm Piano Studios. In the distant future it could well become an archive of great historic interest.

 

Our standard charges for use of the Studio and the Bosendorfer Piano are £350 for thew first day and £225 thereafter. VAT is payable in addition.

 

We can also offer conventional recording on Steinway, Stuart, Steingraeber and other makes of concert grand that are amongst the finest instruments available anywhere.  The Steingraeber is reported by critics in America and the UK to have produced  the best piano sound ever put on CD. For these instruments which do not have the reproduction facility, a recording engineer is needed.  We can provide an engineer for £250 per day.  Depending on the Instrument, it may be necessary to have a standby tuner available during the recording.  Standby tuning  is rarely necessary for Bosendorfer or Stuart pianos, even for a session lasting several days , but is always essential for Steinway pianos which need  tuning correction several times per day.  Steingraeber pianos are sufficiently stable that a trim tune on the morning of the recording is normally sufficient for a full day's work.  
The cost of a standby tuner/technician depends on whether one is available in house at the time of the recording or if he must attend specially.  The charge is typically £30 per hour.