Four contemporary Italian violin makers and a Catalan luthier
who created violins with sympathetic strings are the subjects of
two new documentaries currently in production.
Parma luthier Andrea Zanrè and art historian Paolo Parmiggiani are
making a film about the lives and careers of four of the most
respected figures from the older generation of Italian violin
makers: Francesco Bissolotti, Gian Carlo Guicciardi, Gio Batta
Morassi and Renato Scrollavezza (pictured).
Drawing on these four makers' recollections and a range of
historical sources, the documentary traces the renaissance of
Italian lutherie in the early 20th century, through makers such as
Gaetano Sgarabotto, Giuseppe Ornati, Ferdinando Garimberti and
Simone Fernando Sacconi, and back to Leandro Bisiach and Giuseppe
Fiorini.
Zanrè said that the project developed out of interviews with his
teacher, Renato Scrollavezza. 'We then had the idea of enlarging it
to include other makers, particularly those in their 70s or 80s,
because they can talk about a world that was very different from
today. We wanted to include perspectives on different making
schools, too, so we also spoke to two younger makers – Paolo
Vettori in Florence and Alberto Giordano in Genoa.'
The film, which also includes contributions from Philip Kass and
Andrea Mosconi, is due to have its premiere at Cremona's new Museo
del Violino on 19 September. A DVD release is also planned.
The second documentary is a tribute to Catalan luthier Ricard
Margarit, who died two years ago at the age of 58. He made violins
with up to 16 extra, sympathetic strings. The film project, called
Persimpatia,
highlights four musicians from around the world who play these
unusual instruments: Paul Giger from Switzerland, Indian violinist
L. Subramaniam, Hungarian Zoltán Lantos, and Ernesto Briceño from
Venezuela.
Filming of the first part of the documentary, which focuses on
Lantos, is under way, with the complete project expected to be
finished by the end of 2014.
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