On November 8, 2024, the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Phoenix, Arizona, unveiled its latest special exhibition, Stradivarius and the Golden Age of Violins and Guitars. This remarkable showcase features over 70 exquisite string instruments and bows created by Antonio Stradivari and other renowned European makers from the 16th to the 19th centuries. The collection, which includes violins, guitars, lutes, and bows, highlights how the craftsmanship of Stradivari and his contemporaries transformed string instruments into timeless masterpieces.
Among the exhibition’s highlights is the 1726 Tartini Stradivari violin, which is on public display for the first time. Another rare gem is a Stradivari mandolino coristo, accompanied by its original case; this is one of only two surviving mandolins known to have been made by Stradivari. Other key pieces include violins by Andrea Amati and Giuseppe Guarneri ‘del Gesù,’ bows by François Xavier Tourte and Dominique Peccatte, and guitars by Matteo Sellas, Alexandre Voboam, and Joachim Tielke, among others.
In addition to instruments from MIM’s permanent collection, the exhibition features rare loans from esteemed institutions like the National Music Museum, as well as private collectors, many of whom are displaying their pieces publicly for the first time.
The exhibition offers visitors the opportunity to hear the distinctive sounds of several instruments through original performance videos, starring internationally acclaimed virtuosos such as Rachel Barton Pine and Nancy Zhou. Expert commentary, including insights from Christopher Reuning, former president of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers, further enriches the experience by unveiling the stories behind these masterpieces.
Stradivarius and the Golden Age of Violins and Guitars traces the development of European string instruments over several centuries. The exhibition reveals how instrument-making techniques were passed down and perfected through generations, influenced by European trade and migration. It also highlights similarities in instrument forms and construction methods.
Exhibition curator Matthew Zeller, PhD, notes, “The name Stradivarius is synonymous with the pinnacle of violin making. This exhibition will introduce MIM’s guests to Stradivari and other influential makers, showing the fascinating connections between violin and guitar making, and helping visitors relate these centuries-old masterpieces to the instruments they encounter today.”
The exhibition is now open and will run through September 2025. As it is exclusive to MIM, Stradivarius and the Golden Age of Violins and Guitars will not travel. Zeller also leads highlight tours of the exhibition on the third Thursday of each month.
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