Stradivari and Guarneri, Violin Masters

By any measure, a violin is a thing of beauty,

an object of extravagant curves and burnished surfaces,

fragile and delicate in the hands yet powerful enough

to fill a hall with soaring sound. 

But not all violins are created equal. . . .

~ Introduction to Violin Masters

Two grandmasters of violin-making, Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu, are the subject of a new film that debuted on PBS May 1. Produced by John Forsen and narrated by actor Alfred Molina, Violin Masters: Two Gentlemen of Cremona tells Stradivari's and Guarneri's story with interviews with world violin expert Charles Beare and other historians and professionals, luthiers, and virtuosos of the violin, including Joshua Bell, Itzhak Perlman, and Pinchas Zukerman, who share their perspectives on owning and performing with a Stradivari or a del Gesu.

Here's the short trailer for the film:


Watch Violin Masters: Two Gentlemen of Cremona (Trailer) on PBS. See more from PBS Arts.

Go here for brief biographies of the talent associated with the film. The PBS site offers a number of Web-only interview clips and slideshows.

Check your local PBS affiliate for program-scheduling information. The film is available for purchase as a DVD.

Also Of Interest

Beare's, Violin Dealer/Expert, Founded 1892

Stradivarius Violins at Encyclopedia Smithsonian 

Violin Makers at Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, Metropolitan Museum of Art