The British musician will give his first performance on the c.1709 ‘Scotta’ on 14 September
British violinist Anthony Marwood has been announced as the next player of the ‘Scotta’ violin by Antonio Stradivari.
Made around 1709, the instrument takes its name from the Danish soloist Frida Scotta (1871–1948). It has also been the principal performing instrument of Pekka Kuusisto, and was featured in The Strad Calendar 2023.
The violin has recently been added to the collection of Australian arts foundation Ukaria, having been donated by an Australian patron.
‘I feel so lucky to have this door opened for me,’ said Marwood in an interview with Ukaria.
‘The first notes I played on the “Scotta” jolted me with thrilling and electric energy – I was diving into a broad sound world of colours: tragic depths and glistening brilliance, instantly gratifying but full of promises of secrets that could be unlocked.
’There are places I can go to with this instrument that are uncharted territory for me. It’s clear this new companion is a great and inspiring facilitator – I can hardly believe what it is capable of. Not only does it have undeniable power, but what it can produce in whispering, in vulnerability, and with colours, is remarkable.’
Made during Stradivari’s ‘golden period’, the ‘Scotta’ has a flamed, single-piece maple back. According to dendrochronologist Peter Ratcliff, the spruce of the top plate comes from the same log as was used for other 1709 violins by Stradivari, including ‘La Pucelle’, ‘King Carlos IV’, ‘Viotti’, ‘Greffuhle’ and ‘Wieniawski’.
In the 1930s it was sold to Barbara Kempner, who played in the Busch Ensemble, founded in the 1940s by the violinist Adolf Busch, co-founder of the Marlboro Music Festival. The violin was bequeathed to the festival in the 1980s, where it stayed until 2021.
Marwood will give his first performance on the ‘Scotta’ on 14 September.
The Strad Shop: ‘Viotti’ Antonio Stradivari violin 1709 poster
The Strad Calendar 2023: c.1709 ‘Scotta’ Stradivari violin
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