Conrad Graf, (1782 - 1851), who had from 1824 the title of "Imperial Royal Court Fortepiano Maker" (" k. k. Hofpiano und Claviermacher"), was born in Riedlingen (Wurttemberg) and came to Vienna in 1799 as a joiner. He became a piano builder and opened his own workshop in 1804. By 1820 his instruments were considered "the reatest and most renowned in Vienna and throughout the empire." Graf not only supplied instruments to all the apartments of the imperial court but also provided a pianofortes for Ludwig van Beethoven in 1825. Chopin, Robert and Clara Schumann, Liszt, Mendelssohn and Brahms held Graf pianos in the highest esteem.

The fortepiano used for this concert was made by Paul McNulty, who is one of the most highly respected builders working today. His instruments, modeled after the fortepianos of J.A. Stein, A.Walter, and C.Graf, are the result of meticulous research of the originals. McNulty fortepianos are owned by many fine players and feature in many recordings.

The McNulty instrument is a copy of Graf opus 318 (ca.1819) from Castle Kozel near Pilzn, Czech Republic. In this period the pianos of Graf still retained the thin soundboard and light hammers of the Viennese classical era, with somewhat thicker strings. The fuller tone is nonetheless clear and projecting, which, coupled with the various expression tops, provides convincing Schubertian palette. These pedal effects are: moderator, adouble moderator, sustaining and "una corda.