Violins and magic: In maestro Stradivari’s town, a rebirth of his art

By Giada Zampano

CREMONA, Italy (AA) – In the northern Italian city of Cremona, where the history of violin began over five centuries ago, the art of violin-making is witnessing a new renaissance.

This is the place where Andrea Amati invented the prototype of the modern violin in the 16th century and then the Guarneri family and Antonio Stradivari launched the golden age of Italian luthiers.

Now, Stradivari’s hometown has reopened the house where “Il Maestro" lived and worked with his apprentices. The initiative aims to renew the magical sound of Stradivari’s creations and project into the future the city’s traditional violin craftsmanship, already recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

In this medieval town that sits on the banks of the Po River, violin-making has been experiencing a revival since the 1950s.

After a 200-year period of decline, the city is again attracting experts, musicians and violin-makers, hosting ateliers and training courses to shape new generations of luthiers.

With a population of over 72,000 residents, Cremona is currently home to about 180 luthiers, who are following in the steps of the masters, producing more stringed instruments – violins, violas and cellos – than any other place in the world.

- A bridge to the future

Casa Stradivari, located in a medieval building on Cremona’s central Corso Garibaldi street, reopened its doors to visitors in early July, after a restoration project driven by the vision of Italian-Swiss violinist Fabrizio von Arx, who set up the foundation that supervised the project.

Abandoned for years, the three-story house will host both experts and amateurs eager for any insights into Stradivari’s secrets.

Its spaces have been transformed into a center for learning and masterclasses, with the idea of building a bridge between Cremona’s traditions and the future of this eternal art.

“Stradivari’s creative genius was born here,” von Arx, 47, told Anadolu, showing off the house’s freshly renovated rooms.

He explained that the terrace on the top floor will allow all different kinds of visitors – from musicians to collectors and patrons of the arts – to gather in a very special space, where Stradivari once used to dry his violins.

The idea to renovate the house came from a journey undertaken by von Arx in 2020, when he drove from Geneva to Cremona performing concerts with other artists in the Swiss and Italian Alps, along with his 1720 Stradivarius violin, known as ‘The Angel.’

The tour culminated in a performance at the Casa Stradivari, where the maestro made that same violin hundreds of years ago.

“This house will be a place where everyone can come to exchange ideas and draw inspiration from Stradivari’s history,” von Arx said.

“It was the international community that called for its reopening. This was the missing link for Cremona.”

Here violin-makers are convinced that sharing their knowledge with young luthiers and musicians from across the globe is key to perpetuating their art, keeping the dialogue with new generations alive.

Artisans still use traditional tools and special techniques to craft each instrument individually by hand.

A single violin can take months to finish, so usually only about six or seven are made in a year, with prices for a top-quality instrument reaching €20,000 to €30,000 ($22,000 to $33,000).

- Eternal art

Luthier Stefano Conia, 50, was born in Hungary but lived most of his life in Cremona, where his father opened his atelier about half a century ago, following the steps of his grandfather.

Stefano was just 6 when his dad handed him one of the basic tools to start crafting his own violin.

“I was so small that I couldn’t even reach the working table, so my dad created a small footstool just for me,” Conia told Anadolu in his family workshop, surrounded by violins and cellos hanging on the walls, and filled with the smell of varnishes and woods.

Conia said his family’s generational legacy could end with him as none of his three children want to take up the art, but he’s not worried about it.

“I basically grew up in this bottega (atelier). I felt the woods, the perfumes, the music. It was a natural choice for me to become a violin-maker,” he said.

“But if my kids don’t want to follow my steps, that’s not a tragedy. I know that my violins will continue to bring my art around the world and will survive, forever.”

In 2013, the Museum of Violin added a new page to the ancient connection that links Cremona and artisanal violin-making. The structure includes a museum, a modern auditorium and a research center.

A free “temple” of musical culture, led by director Virginia Villa, has been set up to offer to people a unique experience and glimpse into the historic world of luthiers through educational activities, multimedia features and workshops.

“These masterpieces have lived through centuries to reach us,” Villa said.

“We have the responsibility to preserve this incomparable heritage: music is a universal language, it belongs to all of us.”