Watch The Great Piano Scam

The Great Piano Scam is a captivating documentary from Channel 4 that tells the story of a complex and intricate fraud that hit the classical music world in the early 21st century. The documentary is directed by Tomer Levi, who manages to work with impressive access to key figures and experts in the field, as well as obtaining never-seen-before footage of some of the most iconic pianos and their owners.

The premise of The Great Piano Scam is straightforward yet captivating due to the personalities involved in it. A group of experienced pianists and piano dealers, drawn from different countries and walks of life, falls victim to an elaborate scam perpetrated by a cunning and ambitious concert technician named Chris Hopkins. The documentary starts by introducing the main characters and offering an overview of the vast and expensive Classical Music industry, from the instruments themselves to their owners.

Hopkins manages to make his way into the inner circles of this industry, befriending some of the biggest names within it and exploiting people's love of music, reputation, and trust. He begins selling counterfeit copies of rare and valuable pianos, eventually pocketing millions of pounds through his fraudulent activities. The documentary uses archive footage, interviews with experts, and dramatic recreations to help the viewers get a sense of the intense emotions that Hopkins instigated in his victims.

The Great Piano Scam is not a dry historical account of a fraud but something that pulls at the heartstrings of everyone who has ever been passionate about music. The documentary follows the quest of some of the world's most prestigious pianists and connoisseurs, including pianist Stephen Hough, concert technician Ulrich Gerhartz, and expert piano dealer Steingraeber & Sohne, as they come together to uncover and reveal the scam, and ultimately to seek justice for those who have been harmed by it. The intricate details of this scam make it all the more captivating, with twists and turns that leave viewers at the edge of their seats.

The Great Piano Scam is an incredibly well-constructed documentary that highlights the dedication of music lovers to their art, but also the lengths that some will go to deceive those who share this commitment. The documentary manages to delve deep into the immense value that pianos hold for musicians and music enthusiasts around the world, making it an insightful, humanising account of the consequences of a complex financial fraud.

The documentary also demonstrates the importance of investigative journalism, presenting the work of journalist Richard Davenport-Hines as a prominent example of dedication to the truth, bringing light to the extent of the scam and the damage it caused. It is refreshing to see an instance where journalists tried to bring attention to a scam, rather than dramatizing it.

Overall, The Great Piano Scam is an engaging and thought-provoking documentary that reveals the intricate and captivating world of classical music and provides a sobering look into the ever-present risks of fraud in society. The combination of powerful storytelling and insights from experts in the music industry exposes how crooked individuals can take advantage of the trust of others, and how obsessive people can be about an art form that moved them. The Great Piano Scam is a must-watch for anyone who has a love of classical music or is fascinated by true crime documentaries.