The article reports on Myrna Herzog’s 1685 Edward Lewis viola da gamba, valued at $200,000, that was severely damaged on an Alitalia flight. The viola was in a German Gewa hard case, and Herzog publicly criticized the airline after being unable to reach staff. The piece also points readers to related guidance on avoiding travel damage, FAA regulations for traveling musicians, and selecting protective cases.
Barnebys Magazine reports that the Joachim-Ma Stradivarius violin, made in 1714 by Antonio Stradivari, is anticipated to fetch up to $18 million at Sotheby’s Masters Week in New York. The sale could set a new record for the most expensive instrument ever sold. The instrument previously belonged to Joseph Joachim and later to Si-Hon Ma, and proceeds from the sale would fund NEC scholarships.
The article discusses a MIT physics-based model of the 1715 Titian Stradivarius violin, created from CT scans and divided into millions of elements to simulate wood, varnish, strings, and air. It describes how altering wood, plate thickness, and f-hole openings in the virtual violin could change its sound, offering a computational approach beyond traditional sample-based virtual violins.
The post discusses Wolf, a violin maker associated with Guidantus lineage, born in Bologna in 1837, and his history including connections to Peter Psarianos and San Francisco; it mentions a Stradivarius lineage and a comparison of violin and viola making. The entry is part of a narrative on instrument making and ownership.
Emily Wright reports in Strings Magazine that the Celebrating Women Luthiers exhibit demonstrates how women have historically been underrepresented in violin making, highlighting both modern and earlier female makers and the broader diversity of the trade. The article mentions Katarina Guarneri (née Roda) as a historically cited example and describes a traveling exhibit planned for 2022 in Atlanta, Vermont, and Virginia.
Norwegian cellist Truls Mork was loaned the 1727 Iwasaki Stradivari cello, made by Antonio Stradivari on the shorter cello model with a back length of 721mm. The instrument is owned by the Anders Sveaas Charitable Foundation, which loans instruments to Norwegian and Nordic musicians. No value was stated.
Named works and instruments (1)
Antonio Stradivari — 1727 ‘Iwasaki’ Stradivari cello
Jason Price and Matthijs Strick report on the loan of the ‘Casals’ Goffriller cello to the First Laureate of the 2026 Queen Elisabeth Cello Competition. The instrument, a Goffriller cello built around 1710 in Venice, was owned by Pablo Casals and will be loaned for four years by the Fundació Pau Casals.
The page discusses a Nicolas François Caussin violin from Neufchâteau, France, dated 1865. It provides specifications and notes that the instrument is a copy of a Guadagnini model, crafted by Caussin in his late period, with detailed measurements and a description of its finish and sound characteristics.
Named works and instruments (1)
Nicolas François Caussin — Nicolas François Caussin, France – Neufchâteau, 1865 — ¥6,600,000税込
Italian cellist Ettore Pagano, 23, won First Prize at the 2026 Queen Elisabeth Cello Competition in Brussels, receiving the Queen Mathilde Prize of 25,000 euros and a four-year loan of the 1733 Matteo Gofriller cello known as the Casals, courtesy of the Pau Casals Foundation, along with concert engagements.
Ettore Pagano, an Italian cellist, won the 2026 Queen Elisabeth Competition for Cello in Brussels. Tae-Yeon Kim took second, Leland Ko third; Pagano will play the Pablo Casals cello for four years and receive 25,000 euros plus concert engagements.