Bösendorfer Concert Grand 290 Imperial — Available to Order
The 290 Imperial exists because of a specific artistic problem. In 1900, Ferruccio Busoni was transcribing Bach's organ works and found that no piano could reach the bass registers he needed, the 16 to 32-foot pipes that give the organ its foundation. He went to Ludwig Bösendorfer, who built the first prototype with a full eight octaves. Bartók, Debussy, and Ravel followed, composing works that can only be performed as written on this instrument. That is not marketing language. There are pieces of the repertoire that are literally inaccessible on any other piano.
At 9'6" and 97 keys, the Imperial is the largest and most resonant piano ever put into regular production. Its nine additional bass notes do not simply extend range, they vibrate sympathetically with every note played across the entire keyboard, giving the instrument an orchestral depth and timbral complexity that no 88-key instrument can approach. It is, by any measure, the summit of what a grand piano can be.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Concert Grand, Imperial |
| Length | 290 cm (9'6") |
| Width | 102 cm |
| Height | 168 cm |
| Keys | 97 (full 8 octaves, extended to Subcontra C) |
| Weight | 552 kg |
| Finish | Polished Ebony standard; ask us about finish options |
| Action | Bösendorfer specification |
| Soundboard | Air-dried spruce, Resonance Case Principle |
| Pedals | 3 (una corda, sostenuto, sustain) |
| Origin | Handcrafted in Vienna, Austria |
As an authorized Bösendorfer dealer, Piano Gallery of Idaho can place a factory order for any model in the current lineup. Contact us at 208-524-4420 to discuss specifications, finish options, and timeline. White glove delivery available throughout the region.
