Interview with Trond Hellstrøm

Hellstrøm Flygel & Piano, the international C. Bechstein partner in Oslo, Norway, has an interesting history and a promising future. We talked to managing director Trond Hellstrøm about his shop's position in the Norwegian piano market and about his motivating force.

“Our overall goal is to maintain the acoustic piano’s position in musical life.”

Dear Trond, please tell us about the history of Hellstrøm Pianos. How did everything start, when and where?

My stepfather Fritz C. B. Hellstrøm, who was born in Stockholm in 1910, had a strong and early desire to become a piano technician and builder. He once visited the C. Bechstein manufactory in Berlin in the 1930s and since then the instruments were his favorites ever since. My stepfather then worked on the construction of an own piano model with a height of 117cm and his dream of starting his own production was reinforced. Towards the end of World War II he got the advice to relocate from Sweden to Norway, because it would probably be easier to succeed with the project there. My stepfather followed the advice!

So your stepfather opened a piano manufactory in Oslo?

Yes, the first piano model «F. Hellstrøm, mod. 17» was built in the basement of a barn outside Oslo in late 1946. In total about 6,000 Hellstrøm pianos were built until the end of production in 1980. The competition of pianos from Asia in the late 60s and, in addition, electronic organs in the 70s were the death knell for craft-based production of pianos in Norway.

When did you enter the business of Hellstrøm Pianos?

I took over running the company when my stepfather died in 1985.

What is the focus of your business today?

The presentation and sale of new grand pianos and pianos form a significant and growing part of our business. We focus on high quality and control at all stages the maintenance of a high level of quality.

Since when are you selling C. Bechstein models?

Just before Christmas 2007, a dream of many years came true: We were given responsibility for the import of C. Bechstein grand pianos and uprights in Norway! C. Bechstein didn’t have an active representative in this country for many years, so it was a great honor and opportunity for us. The background for choosing our suppliers is a high requirement for quality and stability, as well as sonorous and technical properties. For years, we have sought instruments from a manufacturer which pursues  a sound ideal which can be expressed through varied and nuanced playing, combined with high material and construction quality.

What is your bestselling C. Bechstein model?

This without a doubt the C.Bechstein Academy A 124 Imposant (A 6).

"It is very important that the customers gain new knowledge during their visit"

What is your motto as a piano dealer?

Our motto is simple: We want to listen to and understand our customers, so that we can give them advice and provide guidance in the best possible way for them to make the right decision when choosing an instrument. It is very important that the customers gain new knowledge during their visit and has a good and confident feeling on the way home as well.

That’s a great motto! What nourishes your passion?

Our overall goal is to maintain the acoustic piano’s position in musical life. The experience of acoustic sound is also stimulating for a child. Stimulation in the early years is important for establishing interest in playing an instrument, and the joy of creating moods through the music and the instrument. So we try to provide solid affordable older pianos that are put in mint condition for families with a low budget and children, who want to play the piano. Many people lose interest and motivation with a digital piano.

"We want to serve performers at the highest musical and technical level."

Do you also offer piano services?

Oh yes, we perform all piano related services, including rental for concerts and events with tuning and voicing. We also do valuations, piano moving services as well as studio tuning with regulation and voicing. In addition to that, we want to serve performers at the highest musical and technical level.

It sounds like you take an active part in the Norwegian music scene.
That’s true. We work actively with the rental of concert instruments for large and small festivals and concerts. This is a very effective promotion for C. Bechstein. We can at any time offer all the C. Bechstein Concert grand piano models except Concert Series model L 167. In addition we also have the Concert Series C 8, Residence R 124, Academy A 124 and more. When highly acclaimed artist Hania Rani performed at Oslo Konserthus in November 2022, we provided her with a W. Hoffmann upright and grand piano. It was an amazing concert!

Do you have any specific plans for the future?

Within a couple of years we want to take back our old factory premises to transform our company. We want to enhance our sales activities, our presentation of instruments and also want to offer a cultural space for music concerts. The practice room and lounge area in connection with our workshop are supposed to become a meeting place for music students and interested customers. A smaller concert area with Café will be made available for music gatherings.

These are quite ambitious goals!

Yes, we believe in our expertise and passion, so that we can gradually strengthen the position of Hellstrøm Pianos in the Norwegian music scene in the long-term.

Thanks so much for this interview, dear Trond!