Murray Perahia

Piano technician to the greats, Ulrich Gerhartz is in conversation about pianos with his friend Murray Perahia.

Ulrich Gerhartz is talking pianos with some of the greatest pianists of our age. Ulrich is Director of Concert and Artist Services at Steinway and Sons in London. For the last 30 years he’s been piano technician to the stars of the piano world. When they sit down at a keyboard, it's his job to ensure that these top musicians have the best instrument possible set up for their particular taste and touch.

Great pianists take Ulrich on tour; into recording studios; and to the world’s finest concert halls. Tuning is a small part of what he does as he spends hours preparing each piano to suit each performer.

Here Ulrich is in conversation with his friend, the great pianist Murray Perahia. They discuss memories of recording the Goldberg Variations in Switzerland; choosing a piano to record Brahms; and Murray’s memories of his mentor Vladimir Horowitz.

Mendelssohn: Lieder ohne Worte, Book 1, Op.19 no.3
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K491: II. Larghetto
J.S Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Var. 29, 30, Aria da capo
Chopin: Etudes, Opus 25 - No.1 in A flat major
Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 19 in C minor, D958: II. Adagio
Brahms: Intermezzo in A major, Op.118 no.2;
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106 - "Hammerklavier": IV. Largo - Allegro risoluto

Producer: Rosie Boulton
A Must Try Softer Production