In a story where art, philanthropy and finance meet, the Australian Chamber Orchestra unveils today the latest addition to its collection of spectacularly fine instruments, an extremely rare and historically significant violin.
The violin was made by Joseph Guarneri filius Andreae in 1714, and purchased for US$1.35 million by the ACO for the ACO Instrument Fund.
Experts agree that it is likely Joseph Guarneri’s son, del Gesù, the maker of ACO Artistic Director Richard Tognetti’s US$15 million violin, also had a hand in its making. Some of the world’s most famous violinists, including Heifetz, Paganini, and Menuhin have favoured Guarneris.
The Fund’s first acquisition was Australia’s only Stradivari violin, secured in 2011.
The Guarneris were a distinguished family of luthiers from Cremona in Italy in the 17th and 18th centuries, whose standing is considered comparable to that of the Amati and Stradivari families. This violin, previously owned by Isolde Menges, a renowned English violinist and pedagogue in the early 20th century, comes with an impeccable provenance. Only about 250 of Joseph Guarneri’s violins still survive.
This exceptional violin will be played by an exceptional talent, the ACO’s Rebecca Chan. Chan finished school in rural Victoria when she was fourteen, and completed degrees in Medicine and Arts at the University of Melbourne, but her heart always yearned for a musical life. She left behind plans to practise as a doctor, returned to musical studies, and became a soloist with many of Australia’s major orchestras. In 2008, Chan became an ACO Emerging Artist, and in 2010, joined the ACO as a core member.
Chan says “This 1714 Guarneri violin has many of the typical characteristics which we have come to expect from this legendary luthier. It has a dark, rich tone, like an alto voice, yet it is capable of great sweetness. Although it’s a very powerful violin, it can also spin the most delicate and intimate pianissimos.”
The Guarneri will have its public debut during the ACO’s Mahler 4 & Sibelius 6 concerts across Australia from 16th to 29th June. Chan has spent the past few months getting to know the Guarneri and has promised a few surprises so audiences can hear what this remarkable instrument is capable of.
You can see Rebecca Chan play the 1714 Guarneri violin here:
About Joseph Guarneri filius Andreae
Joseph Guarneri, (1666-1739) trained as a violin maker and violinist, and is considered to be among the great luthiers, producing instruments which are beautiful, and which exhibit a unique blend of tonal excellence, design, and accuracy of workmanship. Later, he was assisted by his sons, Pietro Guarneri and Bartolomeo Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù, and these instruments, built by father and sons, are often considered superior to his earlier instruments.
About the Joseph Guarneri Violin
This violin has an authenticity certificate from J.A. Beare, London and a letter from W E Hill & Sons in which Alfred Hill states, “I consider the violin by Joseph Guarnerius filius Andreae… a very interesting example of the maker’s work in as much as certain features – the head especially so – clearly denote the participation therein of del Gesù, consequently the instrument may be justly regarded as their joint production…its aspect is certainly picturesque, its construction first rate and the varnish of the finest quality.”
About the ACO Instrument Fund
The ACO Instrument Fund is the first commercial fund in Australia which invests in historic stringed instruments of exceptional quality. The instruments are selected by the ACO, and the Fund lends the instruments to the ACO for its musicians to play.
As well as its sound financial basis, investment in fine instruments represents a strong philanthropic commitment contributing to Australia’s cultural landscape. The Fund’s Patron is the philanthropist, Peter Weiss AM. Mr Weiss led the way in 2011 with an unprecedented gift, the largest donation in the ACO’s history, to assist the Fund to acquire its first purchase, the Stradivari violin.
While past performance is no guarantee of future performance, historical data paints a picture of an investment with relatively low risk and a favourable return. Research has shown that real returns through public sales to Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesù violins have been as high as 6.92% per annum over the 25 years to 2006, and it has been estimated to be as high as 8-10% per annum for private sales.
The ACO’s Collection of Fine Instruments
The two instruments purchased by the ACO for the ACO Instrument Fund will join other fine instruments already on loan to the ACO:
- The famous 1743 ‘Carrodus’ Guarneri del Gesù violin, on loan from a private benefactor, played by the ACO’s Artistic Director, Richard Tognetti AO.
- The 1728/29 Stradivari violin, on loan from the ACO Instrument Fund, played by the ACO’s Principal Violin, Satu Vänskä.
- A 1759 Guadagnini violin, owned by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, played by the ACO’s Principal Violin, Helena Rathbone.
- A 1610 Giovanni Paolo Maggini viola, on loan from private Australian benefactors, played by ACO Principal Viola, Christopher Moore.
- A 1729 Guarneri filius Andreæ cello, on loan from Peter Weiss AO, played by the ACO’s Principal Cello, Timo-Veikko Valve.
- A late-16th century Gasparo da Salò bass, on loan from private Australian benefactors, played by ACO Principal Bass, Maxime Bibeau.
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