For Subscribers

Bottesini’s bass makers: the Rossi family

2025-05-23T09:09:00

Wide images (4)

The development of the double bass in 19th-century Milan owed a lot to the Rossi family. Thomas and George Martin investigate the lives of its members, and the innovations they brought to double bass design

Milan has a rich history not only in music, musicians and composition but also in the making of violin family instruments. The city has been home to several notable violin makers who produced beautiful and significant double basses, including the workshops of Grancino, Testore, Landolfi, Rivolta and Arienti. In this article we delve into the fascinating legacy of the Rossi family, a dynasty of musicians and instrument makers…

Already subscribed? Please sign in

Subscribe to continue reading…

We’re delighted that you are enjoying our website. For a limited period, you can try an online subscription to The Strad completely free of charge.

  • Free 7-day trial

    Not sure about subscribing? Sign up now to read this article in full and you’ll also receive unlimited access to premium online content, including the digital edition and online archive for 7 days.

    Free trial

    No strings attached – we won’t ask for your card details

  • Subscribe 

    No more paywalls. To enjoy the best in-depth features and analysis from The Strad’s latest and past issues, upgrade to a subscription now. You’ll also enjoy regular issues and special supplements* and access to an online archive of issues back to 2010.

    Subscribe

 

* Issues and supplements are available as both print and digital editions. Online subscribers will only receive access to the digital versions.