The article discusses Antonio Stradivari's Messia 1716 violin, housed at Oxford's Ashmolean Museum since 1939, returning to Cremona for an exhibition at the Museo del Violino from September 15 to December 18. Paolo Bodini comments on the six years of diplomatic work behind the loan, highlighting the instrument's rarity and pristine condition; the Messia's provenance traces back to the Cozio collection and Luigi Tarisio before passing to the Hill family who donated it to Oxford.
Benning Violins will loan eight master-crafted cellos and five fine cello bows to USC’s Piatigorsky International Cello Festival. The festival, a 10-day event presented by USC Thornton School of Music and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, features 26 international cellists from 15 countries and 4 continents.
Zuill Bailey discusses Matteo Goffriller, Venice 1693, the ‘Schneider’, his instrument’s history and why its size affects playability, including notes on its back length (77 cm) and design contrasts with a Montagnana; the instrument’s provenance includes Mischa Schneider of the Budapest Quartet.
Ralph Kirshbaum, artistic director of the Piatigorsky Festival, describes his relationship with the Domenico Montagnana cello from Venice, 1729, and his long-time bond with it since acquiring it in the 1970s. He details how he came to own the instrument, a pivotal first performance with it, and later refinements by luthier Rene Morel that altered its sound.
The Violin Channel reports that 2016 Tarisio Trust Young Artist grants were awarded to four recipients, including VC ‘Artist’ Tessa Lark, for a debut recording; Canadian cellist Arien Husko for an interactive concert series for children with autism; American cellist Michael Kaufman for commissioning five American composers for new Cello Quintet repertoire; and John Mietus & Jonathan Sussman for The String Bank initiative to redistribute used strings to underprivileged schools.
The article discusses the Antonio Stradivari Institute in Cremona where aspiring luthiers study to learn from Stradivari’s legacy and other masters like Nicolò Amati. It notes that about 600 genuine Stradivari violins exist and collectors pay up to 11 million euros for a Stradivari violin, with the tradition of violin making continuing in Cremona since the 16th century.
Gadgets 360 reports on the 3Dvarius, a 3D-printed electric violin based on a Stradivarius design. The backer price for one 3Dvarius is around Rs. 5 lakh, and the Kickstarter project is accepting funds until June 16.
Shari Ulrich, a Juno-winning musician, had a violin she played for 43 years, another violin, and a mandolin stolen and later found by Vancouver police. The theft occurred in Vancouver and Ulrich confirmed the discovery via social media.