A Brothers Amati viola to a cello called ’Ginger': more instruments from Music@Menlo

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Last week, we showed you the instruments appearing with some of the artists featured at the 2024 edition of Music@Menlo. These included Stradivari and Gagliano violins, a Guadagnini cello, plus two instruments by modern maker Samuel Zygmuntowicz.

This week, we take a look at more instruments of the artists at Music@Menlo. The earliest instrument from this lot is Paul Neubauer’s viola, made by the Brothers Amati in 1620. The instrument was formerly played by Karl Doktor of the Busch Quartet.

Violinist Benjamin Beilman performs on the ’Ysaÿe’ Guarneri ’del Gesù’ violin from 1740 - an instrument that has passed through the hands of many legendary players including Eugene Ysaÿe, Isaac Stern, Yehudi Menuhin and Pinchas Zukerman.

Beilman was loaned this instrument in 2022 by the Nippon Music Foundation. ’The real magic comes from the innate quality of tone,’ Beilman told The Strad in a 2023 interview. ’Other del Gesù violins share some of this quality, but I’m perpetually amazed by the Ysaÿe’s silky smooth progression when I want to change depth of sound.’

Interesting fact: the violin’s legendary status was reflected when it was carried on a velvet pillow in front of Ysaÿe’s casket at his state funeral procession in Belgium!

Cellist Sterling Elliott performs on a cello by Gennaro Gagliano from 1741 and has given the instrument his own nickname - ‘Ginger’.

Elliott acquired this instrument through the Robert F. Smith Fine String Patron Program, in partnership with the Sphinx Organization. He first performed on the instrument at the 2021 Music@Menlo festival when he participated in the Chamber Music Institute’s International Program.

Finally, we take a look at the youngest instrument in this cohort. Double bassist Nina Bernat plays an Upton bass from 2023. She commissioned the instrument, which is a copy of her late 1600s Italian bass labelled Bussetto, but attributed to Guadagnini.

The bass has a removable neck which make it easier to travel.

Audience members will have the chance to hear these instruments and their players throughout the 2024 Music@Menlo Summer Festival, which commenced on 19 July and runs until 10 August. Find out more here.

All photos courtesy Harrison Truong.