Searsino Stefan Knüpfer is a piano tuner who works for Steinway (very popular manufacturer). He spends a great deal of time working with pianists making sure that the pianos they play on sound just right before performances. Pianomania masterfully shows us the tension between Stefan and Pierre- Laurent Aimard, a renown French pianist, who seemingly can never be satisfied. We are given a look into the complex requests Knüpfer must take on as he tries to understand the needs of performers and their instruments.Piano tuners are a rare breed of person, of which Stefan is no exception. This fragile-looking man with rounded glasses who lives a stress-filled life of running from one performance hall to the next on a daily basis. He is the perfect example of someone who works behind the scenes, often going unnoticed, never recognized for the importance of his work to the performances viewed by many."...it (piano) has to be continuously remixed so that what is produced right there, the quality of the sound conforms with what the artist imagines. That is the difficulty that needs to be constantly addressed." The film is much like an episode of "Worlds Toughest Jobs". As Stefan mentions, it is trying to create a sound from the piano that is exactly like the sound that these performers have in their minds. Taking something that is obscure or intangible and turning this into reality. I found the language barrier to be fascinating considering the performers he works with come from all walks of land. It is almost comic how this adds to the already daunting task of interpreting what is being asked of him.Pianomania is a perfect example of why I continue to watch documentaries. They not only offer a voice to those who have none, but can also provide a view into the world of those who may not care for one. That Stefan finds beauty in everything about his job makes this all the more beautiful to watch.

Rachael Swanson Pianomania is an Austrian documentary about Stephan Knupfer. Knupfer, a tuner for Steinway caters to the demands of the best pianists on the planet. Throughout this documentary, there are numerous dialogues between Knupfer and famous pianists such as Lang Lang, Alfred Brendel and Pierre-Laurent Aimard discussing the color, tone, attack and release of notes on the piano. It is truly fascinating to hear how the character of the piano's tone can be altered so carefully and artistically. Knupfer's work in the documentary is described as almost neurotic. His drive for perfection takes him to work in the greatest concert halls in existence. The documentary gives a sneak peak into behind the scenes of the tedious work that goes into recording sessions of major classical works. To capture the sounds of these acoustic instruments as well as possible for the film, Dolby Surround quality is utilized which enables the viewer to get a somewhat true sense of what the performances would have sounded like live. I would highly recommend this documentary to those who are avid classical music listeners and for those who are novice. This film truly portrays the obsessiveness of not only the performers but also of the technical artists that make classical music available to the masses through recordings and live performances. Magic and human intellect combined!

badcommand I've always enjoyed watching an artist at the top of the game, and while the musicians here, Lang Lang, Aimard et al are all at the top of their games for sure, it is Stephan Knüpfer who is the true artist here. Here is a man who knows his pianos at such an intimate level he is able to translate the musicians incredibly specific and intangible demands in to reality.This film is just captivating from beginning to end, watching Stephan tweak, poke, dust, tune, twist and thump the pianos like only a true master of his craft can do.Highly recommended.

ian-1444 A year in the life of Stephan Knüpfer, Steinway's tuner/piano mechanic who services the beautiful Steinway grand pianos in Vienna's concert halls.The preparation in bringing these magnificent pianos to perfect condition, each one fine-tuned to satisfy the differing whims of the virtuoso who will play it, is astounding to see and hear. It's astonishing that people can have such delicate ears, to be able to hear such tiny changes in tone and colour when minuscule adjustments are made to tuning, hammers and strings.If you're a music lover you must see this film.