Viotti Strad
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Viotti Strad is a violin constructed by the famous luthier Stradivari. It is one of only 700 Stradivarius violins, violas, cellos or guitars that are known to exist in the world today.
It originally belonged to the virtuoso Giovanni Battista Viotti who is said to have received it as a love token from Catherine the Great. Viotti is also thought to have commissioned the construction of at least one fake copy of this violin. The Viotti was purchased in 2005 for £3.5 million by the Royal Academy of Music.
It is not surprising that this violin demanded such a high cost. The violin is in very good condition, free from many of the signs of wear and tear that mark many other instruments from this period. The violin's provenance has also contributed to its value. As one of the greatest virtuoso violinists of his day, Viotti was very influential in the field of instrumental technique. His advocacy of Stradivarius violins was also key to the recognition of their maker as the foremost of all luthiers.
[edit] See also
- Stradivarius (includes a list of Stradivari’s instruments)
