A radiant, otherworldly sound, unique and inimitable: in the 18th century, the legendary Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari knew how to enchant the musical world with the tones of the violin. Whether it’s the German star violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter or the Dutch “king of living room music”, André Rieu, the Stradivarius is your constant companion.
About 1000 violins are said to have been preserved by Antonio Stradivari. Anne-Sophie Mutter owns two, the “Emiliani” from 1703 and the “Lord Dunn-Raven” from 1710. The instruments usually bear the names of their previous owners or famous virtuosos who played them. They have a price between 3 and 16 million euros, the maximum limit is open.
The Stradivarius is her constant companion: Anne-Sophie Mutter performs with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at the Rheingau Music Festival 2022
When André Rieu was financially worried about the continued existence of his “Johann Strauss Orchestra” due to a lack of performances during the Corona pandemic, he thought about selling his precious Stradivarius in 2021. But it didn’t go that far. On holidays he lets the sound of his violin unfold his captivating effect again, also in his program “Christmas with André”.
Guarneri del Gesù: the most expensive violins in the world
For a long time, the “Lady Blunt” Stradivarius was considered the best-selling violin in the world with over 15 million euros. After 2010, Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù’s violins were auctioned for over 16 and 18 million euros. Much higher sums are now circulating and buyers often remain anonymous. Of the instruments made by luthier Giuseppe Guarneri, who lived from 1698 to 1744, there are only about 200 left worldwide, driving up prices.
German-American violinist Augustin Hadelich has been playing a Guarneri on loan since 2020. “I was fascinated by the sound of the violin and knew right away that I wanted to play it,” Hadelich told DW. “The sound is rounder and warmer. Especially on the low strings, the violin sounds wider, fuller and fuller, and not all violins have that.”
Expensive tools on loan for a limited time
Many well-known virtuosos, but also talented newcomers, have the opportunity to use valuable instruments via loan. Russian cellist Anastasia Kobekina plays a 1698 Antonio Stradivari cello on loan from a Swiss foundation.
Anastasia Kobekina belongs to the generation of newcomers
The young Spanish violinist María Dueñas, who signed an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon in 2022, is lauded for her virtuosic manner and artistic maturity. This has also attracted potential lenders to the scene. The Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben provided her with a Nicolò Gagliano violin. The 20-year-old also plays a 1736 Guarneri del Gesu, on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation, which belongs to Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and has the largest collection of Stradivaris.
His instruments are in demand all over the world: luthier Antonio Stradivari (1648-1737)
How do you get hold of a valuable tool?
23-year-old British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason has been playing a Matteo Goffriller cello from the 1700s for more than a year. The Venetian luthier was famed for the exceptional quality of his cellos. Kanneh-Mason is fascinated by the round and full sound: “My whole playing has changed and grown with this instrument,” he says in an interview with DW.
His cello is on loan from a group of six sponsors. Violin expert Florian Leonhard arranged the deal. Leonard deals with the coveted tools of centuries past. “It is well known that tools are a good investment,” says Leonhard in a DW documentary. “The number of old tools is limited and we have more and more interested parties around the world.”
String instruments as an investment
Noted British violinist Daniel Hope doesn’t necessarily need an intermediary. “One day I got a call out of the blue and a lady said she wanted to make an investment,” Hope tells DW. He had to choose an instrument, the lady wanted to buy it as an investment, she had to play it.
“It’s nearly impossible for artists to afford these tools because the price explosion is insane,” Hope says. She chose Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu’s 1742 “Ex-Lipiński” violin, named after the 19th-century virtuoso Karol Lipiński.
Daniel Hope is also traveling with his Guarneri at Christmas and plays together with Sting in his “Christmas@home 2022” format.
Play a Mozart violin once
Some instruments are so rare that you’re happy if you’re only allowed to play them once, even if it’s not a Stradivarius or Guarneri violin. Violinist Renaud Capuçon usually plays a Guarneri del Gesu that was once owned by famed violinist Isaac Stern. In 2021, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Würzburg Mozart Festival, he had the opportunity to play a violin that once belonged to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It comes from the workshop of Pietro Antonio Dalla Costa, built in 1764. The instrument is owned by the Salzburg Mozarteum Foundation.
For Capuçon it was not only a great joy, but also a challenge: “The instruments were brought by the people of Salzburg and they always kept them with them,” Capuçon told DW after the concert. “If we wanted to try, we had to ask. So I didn’t get to play the violin too much, but it was a wonderful experience, the instrument was very sonorous.”
Interest in the stars of tomorrow
Stringed instruments, including a Mozart violin, must be played to get their sound. In the end, not only the luthier or previous owner determines its value, but also the well-known virtuosos who have played the instrument over the centuries. “I’m trying to attract people who also think about the emotional part of investing. It is absolutely necessary that the young and future stars of the future have the right tools,” says violin expert Florian Leonhard.
David Garrett is delighted with his new Guarneri del Gesu
The famous violinist David Garrett, who reaches millions of viewers with crossover programs, had this chance. At the age of 13 he was loaned a real Stradivarius for several years. More recently he has been playing a Guarneri del Gesu, on loan from the Italian city of Cremona. The 42-year-old was so enthusiastic about the violin that in September 2022 he bought a 1736 Guarneri in Paris for 3.5 million euros. “The offer was like winning the lottery for me,” Garrett told the press at the time. You can hear him with his new Guarneri on his “Iconic” tour in 2023.
