Ten Pianos from the Collection of Ljubomir Gašparović

Until 6 May, the Museum of Arts and Crafts will feature the exhibition “Ten Pianos from the Collection of Ljubomir Gašparović”. This unique private collection in Croatia is owned by a piano professor at the Music Academy, Ljubomir Gašparović, and it consists of 17 instruments dating between 1835 and 1924.

The exhibition will include pianos by renowned manufacturers from Vienna, such as Mathias Müller Jr., Joseph Simon, and Johann and Ludwig Heitzmann, whose instruments were once the epitomes of excellent sound. On the other hand, pianos by the best renowned contemporary manufacturers, such as Bechstein of Berlin, Pleyel of Paris, and American-German Steinway, are also featured in the exhibition. One of the rarities featured in the exhibition is a piano that was manufactured in 1922 at the Hamburg branch of Steinway & Sons. It was originally built as a reproduction piano, which was a technological novelty for pianists at the time as it enabled subsequent listening of the played tune.

Another interesting feature of the exhibition is its concurrent music program, which will enable visitors to experience the sound quality of the pianos as well as their design. Concerts will be performed by professor Gašparović himself, together with his associates, who will play on five of the ten exhibited pianos from his private collection.