Event

PIANOMANIA

PIANOMANIA
Thursday, April 12 at 7:30pm
Members $9 / Public $13
Includes Reception

Directed by Lilian Franck and Robert Cibis, Pianomania takes you
into the secret world of sounds a place where passion and the pursuit
of perfection collide with artistic obsession and a little bit of madness. As
Steinway & Sons' chief technician and Master Tuner in Vienna, Stefan Knüpfer
is dedicated to the unusual task of pairing world-class instruments with
world-famous pianists. Juggling the demands of the pianist, the piano, and
the piece to find the perfect match requires boundless enthusiasm, but also
endless patience and nerves of steel. No detail is too small or too
inconsequential for Knüpfe, not even the tiniest speck of dust on a piano
string. Tensions run high as performances loom while the pianists adamantly
demand that pianos be tuned and re-tuned endlessly. Knüpfer is everywhere,
from helping prepare Pierre-Laurent Aimard for a seminal recording of Bach's
works to making sure Lang Lang has a bench sturdy enough to withstand his physical playing style. With a commitment and
understanding of sound as powerful as the musicians paired with a rather mad sense of humor, Stefan somehow manages to help
them achieve perfection. Germany/Austria, 2010, 93 min., color, 35mm