As usual, I prefer the less-processed one. But what would you expect from a guy who always used to shoot kodachrome!
Thanks for posting the comparison, and for the description of how you got the shot.

Yes, like this one best, too. Great shot! Well done, indeed!

Thanks for your comments Jim and Bruce. I think I will have to get back to basics and brush up on my technique! There is a place for HDR and other processes (I think!) but one does have to start by taking a decent photograph in the first place.

I like this better than the more processed, though this looks less sharp. I like the room, it feels calming. Maybe you could have turned down the highlights. The only thing that really bothers me is the foreground chair. It distracts from the instrument, especially being red.

Thanks Donald. In fact the highlights have already been toned down via Elements shadow/highlight tool. I think any further work on that would have looked unnatural. Yes, the HDR tone-mapping in the previous version seems to enhance apparent sharpness which this lacks to an extent, however it WAS 1/fifth sec exposure hand-held! I really couldn't do anything about the chair (I have de-saturated it already). I couldn't move the exhibits and had only one viewpoint I could use where I could brace myself against the door-frame. I'm not keen on flash in this situation, I think it ruins the ambience!

Very good shot showing an ambient dominated by the wood color and textures.
That is the kind of photographs I like to shot to use them as a background to situate after all people or single person photographed at studio. Dificult to combine different white balances and light directions but very good exercise I think.
Returning to your picture, congratulations!