One of two Stradivari violins named after the Renaissance genius, the c.1725 ’Da Vinci’ is played by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s David Coucheron
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.
c.1725 ‘Da Vinci’ Stradivari violin
There are two Stradivari violins named the ‘Da Vinci’. One, built in 1714, made headlines in 2022 when it was sold for $15.34 million. The c.1725 ‘Da Vinci’ is owned by the foundation; it is not entirely clear how either instrument received its nickname, except that the 1714 one was so named by the Parisian dealer Albert Caressa in 1923. The effects of Stradivari’s age can be seen in this violin, for instance in that the treble-side f-hole sits slightly higher than that of the bass side, and in the fitting of the purfling. The back is made from two pieces of quarter-cut maple with a broad, irregular flame running horizontally. The varnish is red–brown over a golden ground. The instrument is currently played by Norwegian violinist David Coucheron, concertmaster of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
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Photos: Magnus Nedregård
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