links / references
www.pianomania.dewww.facebook.com/pianomania
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_recommendations
highly recommended
Production Company
www.facebook.com/pianomania
PIANOMANIA
Synopsis
Pianomania is a portrayal of Stefan Knuepfer, the virtuosic piano tuner from Steinway, Austria, and his many famous clients at work, including Lang Lang, Alfred Brendel, Andrej Gravilov, Mitsuko Uchida, Rudolf Buchbinder and Pierre-Laurent Aimard; the film offers an unusual and amusing look behind the heavy curtains at major concerts. This film is about the quest for the perfect tone. It shows each obstacle that is created by abandoning everyday routine and surrendering oneself to Art.The fortitude that devotion engenders, the supreme love of perfection and of divine moments; and yet the refusal to bask in one’s glory. Our protagonists are world-renowned pianists and their hero, piano tuner Stefan Knuepfer; and all are obsessed with the idea of the perfect sound.
Cast & Crew
- Director
- Director of photography
- Editor (Cut)
- Sound
- Compositing
- Sound Design
Festivals/awards
among others:Seal of Approval highly recommended as well as Film of the Month (FBW)
Max Ophüls Preis - World Premiere
IFF Locarno 2009 - awarded with Semaine de la Critique
nominated European Film Ward - Best Documentary 2009
IFF San Francisco 2010 - Golden Gate Award
DIAGONALE, Austria - Best Editing of Documentary
Kinofest Lünen - AudienceAward LÜDIA as well as Best Film of the Festival
EuroDOC, Denmark - Honorable mention
Int. Hofer Filmtage 2009
IDFA 2009
DOK Leipzig 2009
Cork Festival, Ireland 2009
Review
“The art of the Steinway whisperer.” - The New York Times“Surprisingly compelling! Too intriguing and entertaining to be left to the specialists… A captivating film not just for pianomaniacs.” - Time Out London
“A fascinating glimpse into a very specialized corner of the music world. Pianist Andras Schiff once said, ‘Whatever we do on the piano is a collection of illusions.’ After watching Pianomania, you will understand..” - NPR Music
“Stefan Knüpfer is a co-conspirator, a sorcerer’s apprentice, even a piano witch doctor and to watch him in action is addictive.” - Los Angeles Times
“Absolutely magnificent! An amazing glimpse into the rarefied realm of elite musicians. It’s tremendously enriching, and should be seen by all who love classical music.” - About.com
“An extraordinary man and a truly engaging documentary.” – Filmmonthly.com
“The film comes with a 5.1 Surround Sound audio track, which I’d say is the ideal way to listen to the film. This creates the optimal environment to hear the minute changes in timber, pitch, and resonance that Knupfer makes as he prepares each piano to the specific sonic requirements of each musician and venue.” – VeryAware.com
_recommendations
highly recommended
Production Company
Cast & Crew
Lilian Franck, Robert CibisJerzy Palacz
Michelle Barbin
Sabine Panossian (set), David Benedikt (musicrecording), Ina Nikolow (musicrecording)
Ansgar Frerich
Niklas Kammertöns
