ACO Scores Australia’s Only Stradivarius Violin

The ACO's Assistant Leader, Satu Vänskä.  

In what is believed to be two Australian firsts, the Australian Chamber Orchestra is excited to announce the arrival of a Stradivarius violin purchased by the first commercial fund in Australia that invests in historic stringed instruments.

This is the only Australian owned Stradivarius instrument and those who know the violin by name only, you can expect to pay around A$1.79million for the product, made by Antonio Stradivari, who is widely acknowledged to be the greatest violin maker of all time.

Only 650 instruments survive from the original period of manufacture, 1728/1729. In the same way that a fine wine might tickle the tastebuds through a unique combination of elements, his instruments are believed to combine tonal excellence, design, workmanship and beauty to create an overall object of perfection.

Most of the greatest violinists in the world have played Stradivarius instruments including, but not limited to, Heifetz, Perlman and Menuhin.

The first Stradivarius of the antipodes will be played by the Assistant Leader of the ACO, Satu Vänskä. Vänskä is a virtuoso player who performed as a soloist in Europe before her current appointment.

Vänskä says “This Stradivarius is the epitome of fine violins - its distinctive, brilliant, beauty of sound carries in a concert hall through the ears straight to the listener’s heart. After endless, lifelong practice to master the violin, most of my generation of violinists simply can’t afford to own an instrument like this one. Being allowed to play this Stradivarius is the realisation of a dream I didn’t dare have.”

The Australian Chamber Orchestra Instrument Fund was formed so that investors may have the opportunity to buy some of the finest instruments from around the world. The instruments are selected by the ACO musicians who will then be able to borrow them from the Fund to play. This is their first acquisition.
Investment funds such as this represent a strong philanthropic interest in preserving Australia’s arts industry.

The Fund’s Patron is the philanthropist, Peter Weiss AM. Mr Weiss led the way with a new unprecedented gift, the largest donation in the ACO’s history.

Audiences around the country will have the opportunity to see and hear the Stradivarius violin in the ACO’s Baroque Virtuosi tour, 5th to 14th July.

Joining the Stradivarius on stage will be one of the best collections of instruments held by an orchestra. The ACO’s collection is valued at around A$16m.

The Stradivarius in Performance

Melbourne Town Hall Sun 3 Jul, 2.30pm & Mon 4 Jul, 8pm
Adelaide Town Hall Tue 5 Jul, 8pm
Sydney, City Recital Hall Sat 9 Jul, 8pm & Tue 12 Jul, 7pm & Wed 13 Jul, 7pm
Sydney Opera House Sun 10 Jul, 2pm
Brisbane, QPAC Mon 11 Jul, 8pm
Wollongong, IPAC Thu 14 Jul, 7.30pm
Bookings: www.aco.com.au, ph.1800 444 444

The Competition – the Stradivarius needs a name

Not only will Australians have the opportunity to experience the Stradivarius violin as a touring work of art, they will also have the chance to have a stab at making history. Most famous instruments have a name that is passed down through the centuries. The ACO is inviting the public to suggest a name for the Stradivarius by logging on to www.aco.com.au and submitting an entry. The winner gets the chance to go to a concert and go backstage to meet Satu Vänskä, and to see and hear the violin up close.