‘Rare instruments, greed and brutal murder’: New documentary about the murders of a luthier and his daughter

Bloomberg Investigates has released a feature-length documentary about the tragic torture and murder of 62-year-old German luthier Bernard von Bredow and his 14-year-old daughter on 22 October 2021 in Aregua, Paraguay. Von Bredow and his daughter were shot dead in their home, with evidence of torture. 

The documentary explores how the killings were likely linked to Von Bredow’s rare instrument collection, which included instruments by Stradivari. It also outlines the luthier’s varied life, which included pursuits in paleontology, having discovered a large mammoth skeleton near his home in Siegdorf in 1975 at the age of 16. The film comprises interviews with friends and family of Von Bredow, journalists, Von Bredow’s lawyer, the case’s prosecutor and some of those accused of the crime itself.

Playing

In The Best of Technique you’ll discover the top playing tips of the world’s leading string players and teachers. It’s packed full of exercises for students, plus examples from the standard repertoire to show you how to integrate the technique into your playing.

Teaching

The Strad’s Masterclass series brings together the finest string players with some of the greatest string works ever written. Always one of our most popular sections, Masterclass has been an invaluable aid to aspiring soloists, chamber musicians and string teachers since the 1990s.

Calendars

The Canada Council of the Arts’ Musical Instrument Bank is 40 years old in 2025. This year’s calendar celebrates some its treasures, including four instruments by Antonio Stradivari and priceless works by Montagnana, Gagliano, Pressenda and David Tecchler.