Written welcome address of the Bavarian State Minister of Science and the Arts, Bernd Sibler, for the 200th anniversary of piano manufacturer Steingraeber & Söhne

Eduard Steingraeber settled in the cultural city of Bayreuth in 1852 and thus laid the foundations for the historical development of the piano manufacturer Steingraeber & Söhne. The historic company headquarters is a magnificent rococo palace and is one of the most significant cultural buildings in Bayreuth, alongside both the Margravial Opera House, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012 as one of the most important and best-preserved examples of baroque theatre culture, and Richard Wagner’s Festspielhaus, which magically draws opera fans from all over the world like no other venue.

Steingraeber pianos combine art with flawless craftsmanship and have thus always created a close relationship with musical artists. Richard Wagner appreciated these masterpieces from Bayreuth just as much as the piano virtuoso Franz Liszt, and before long Steingraeber became a supplier of the newly founded Bayreuth Festival and was appointed official supplier to the Royal Bavarian Court. Today, these first-class instruments are played worldwide by the most distinguished artists and in the most renowned concert halls. But the manufactory also stands for bourgeois domestic music, for making music in the family as well as for access to music for children and young people.

In addition to the manufacture of grand and upright pianos, Steingraeber & Söhne are actively involved in musical events. The festival “Zeit für Neue Musik” (Time for New Music), founded in collaboration with the University of Bayreuth, has been taking place for over 30 years and is just one example among many. Furthermore, the company is committed to addressing the crucial topics of sustainability and the environment, demonstrating impressively how a company that has been family-run for generations can constantly renew itself, innovate and remain successful.

I would like to congratulate Steingraeber & Söhne on their 200th anniversary. I am delighted to be the patron of this milestone jubilee and sincerely wish them the very best in continuing to shape the sound and culture of the piano for many generations to come.

Munich, in April 2020

Bernd Sibler
Bayerischer Staatsminister für Wissenschaft und Kunst

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