Alfred Brendel

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 Knüpfer, 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.