Bergonzi

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This article is about the Bergonzi family of violin makers. For Carlo Bergonzi the singer, see Carlo Bergonzi.

The Bergonzi family was an illustrious group of luthiers in Cremona, Italy, a city that has a rich tradition of stringed instrument makers.

The first and most famous luthier of the family was Carlo Bergonzi (1683-1747).

Carlo Bergonzi was born in Cremona. He apprenticed under Hieronymus Amati, collaborated with Joseph Guarneri, and is considered the greatest pupil of Antonio Stradivari.

Bergonzi's father and mother lived next door to Stradivari in the Piazza San Domenico in Cremona. Carlo apprenticed under Stradivari and eventually was given all of Stradivari’s repair business. Since his repair services were in high demand, Carlo was not able to devote enough time to producing many of his own instruments.

As a great luthier, he is considered next only to his three teachers, who are considered to be among the very greatest of all time.

The violins that he constructed were based on the designs of Stradivari and Guarneri.

One of the most famous of Carlo's violins is known as the Kreisler Bergonzi, named after violinst Fritz Kreisler. At one time it was also owned by violinist Itzhak Perlman. Both Kreisler and Perlman performed and recorded with it.

Carlo Bergonzi's labels vary, but are typically as follows:

Anno 1733, Carlo Bergonzi

fece in Cremona

It is known that many instruments that bear his label are not authentic.