We cordially invite you to the National Technical Museum for the exhibition "PETROF 160 – Piano as a Technical Masterpiece," organized on the occasion of the 160th anniversary of our company's founding.
This exhibition is a joint contribution by the National Technical Museum and PETROF to this year's celebration of the Year of Czech Music.
It offers a glimpse into the history and present-day operations of PETROF, showcasing the process and technical background behind the creation of instruments whose sound resonates around the world, promoting the excellence of Czech craftsmanship.
This ambitiously conceived project allows visitors to peek behind the scenes of grand and upright piano production, where the human element maintains its constant and irreplaceable role, and the final product relies on clockwork precision and the synergy of many specialists.
The exhibition combines technology, craft, and design, while also offering an educational experience with opportunities for both listening and relaxation.
"Some visitors might wonder why a piano exhibition is being held at the National Technical Museum. But the answer is simple! The piano is not just an extraordinary musical instrument, but also a remarkable technical masterpiece. And besides: how many people, for instance, know how a 'baraš' or the soundboard and cast iron frame are made? Who truly understands how a string is created, or what wood is used for the body and lid of the instrument? This exhibition reveals exactly that," says Karel Ksandr, General Director of the NTM, who initiated the idea for the exhibition and developed it in collaboration with PETROF's management.
The exhibition is housed in the largest exhibition hall of the NTM. It is dominated by a spatial installation in the shape of an enlarged grand piano rim. The interior showcases a historical timeline in the form of a musical staff, with notes symbolizing various milestones.
On a raised podium shaped like an oversized grand piano cast iron frame, exhibits are displayed that represent a cross-section of PETROF’s historical development. A particularly interesting exhibit is probably the oldest surviving PETROF piano from 1865.
The third main section of the exhibition, dedicated to manufacturing technologies, is arranged so that the production process is presented in the form of catalog tabs with individual semi-finished products in chronological order, from the tree trunk through the acoustic element and lacquer workshop to the concert stage.
The exhibition is open to visitors until January 31, 2025.
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