The Piano Player of Budapest: A True Story of Survival, Hope, and Music

Singer/songwriter and artist advocate de Bastion inherited her Blüthner baby grand piano after her father died in 2019. The piano had been in her family for more than 100 years; in 1905, her great-grandfather bought it as an engagement gift for his wife-to-be. De Bastion always knew that the piano, with its beautiful, sweet tone, was special, but as she went through her father’s home, she found more treasures: boxes and drawers filled with old cassette tapes, CDs, letters, books, and photographs documenting her grandfather Stephen’s life as a popular pianist, composer, and songwriter in Budapest. Her book is an account of this family history. Nazis killed Stephen’s immediate family members during World War II; he too was captured by Nazis and later sent to a hard labor camp by the invading Russians and de Bastion reveals that music lovers who had heard him play the piano were able to help him escape.