Unique violin from Russian collection restored in Italy

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

On July 11, in the Italian city of Cremona, the Violin Museum hosted a solemn transfer of the restored violin to the representatives of the Russian Federation. In Italy, the restoration of the violin of Santo Serafin, an Italian master, which is part of the Russian collection of unique musical instruments, was carried out.

The General Director of the Glinka All-Russian Museum Association, Mikhail Bryzgalov, said that for almost 100 years not a single exhibit from this Russian museum has been exported outside the country. All restoration work was carried out within the Russian Federation. They decided not to take risks with the violin of the famous master, they needed jewelry work. The negotiations, during which all the details of the restoration were determined, were carried out for 2 years.

The city of Cremona was not chosen by chance. It is a recognized center for violin art. There are a large number of schools of violin art and a lot of craftsmen who are able to create a high-quality instrument, as well as carry out restoration work. The specialists who were involved in the restoration of Santo Serafin's violin said that this work is interesting and rather rare.

Restoration work on this rare musical instrument was carried out on behalf of Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, as well as with the support of the Ministry of Culture.

At the moment, there is another instrument in Cremona, which is included in the State Collection. This is a cello created by master Pietro Guarneri. This musical instrument was created in the first half of the 18th century, and now Italian craftsmen are engaged in its restoration. The restoration work is expected to be completed by the end of this 2017.

Music lovers and violin experts from all over Italy gathered for the ceremony of handing over the violin to the Russian side. During this event, Lena Yokayama played the instrument that was restored. The specialists really liked the result of the restoration work and the impeccable sound of the instrument.

The State Collection includes more than 300 musical instruments created by the best violin makers, including Guarneri del Gesu, Stradivari, Amati and others. The peculiarity of the State Collection is that its instruments, whose age sometimes reaches 500 years, are used from time to time by the State Orchestra, artists of the Mariinsky and Bolshoi Theaters, Yuri Bashmet.