The Strad Calendar 2027: 1727 ‘Iwasaki’ Stradivari cello

Launched in 1990, the Anders Sveaas Charitable Foundation is one of the principal arts funders in Norway. The Strad Calendar 2027 celebrates its work by showcasing twelve of the finest instruments it loans out to players all over the Nordic region – including eleven by Antonio Stradivari.

1727 ‘Iwasaki’ Stradivari cello

The foundation’s most recent acquisition is the 1727 ‘Iwasaki’ Stradivari cello. In May this year it was loaned to Norwegian cellist Truls Mørk, who gave his first performance on the cello at Oslo Concert Hall on 21 May. Playing Dvořák’s Cello Concerto with the Oslo Philharmonic under Klaus Mäkelä, the concert also marking Mäkelä’s final appearance as the orchestra’s chief conductor.

At the time, Mørk said: ‘The cello possesses a wonderfully warm and rich tone, which is inspiring to explore, its clear, pure sound shines with beautiful overtones throughout the entire register, from the deepest notes to the very highest. The cello’s response when drawing the bow across the strings is immediate and lightning-fast – like a racing car!’

Named after Japanese cellist Ko Iwasaki, who owned it from 1997, the cello is built on Stradivari’s shorter form introduced after 1726, with a back length of 721mm. The top is made from four pieces of spruce, while the back is of two pieces of maple. The ribs have a central insert all around, which was added later. The scroll is not original. The varnish is a warm red–brown colour on a lighter ground.

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Photos: Magnus Nedregård