The international luthier's school is in Cremona, Italy is along the very same street where Antonio Stradivari's run-down house is located.
The school is housed in a shabby 15th century palace, devoted to reviving the lost art of violin making. Its inspiration is the design and craftmanship of Stradivari's creations.
The graduates from more than 50 countris have spread across the globe, setting up workshops from Beijing to Boston. Many graduates - about 150 have stayed in Cremona, where they lovingly craft violins, violas and chellos.
Mr. Salvadori's workshop is no bigger than a walk - in closet where the walls are covered with framed awards for his creations. he is passionate about the details and makes only 5 violins a year.
Today the school is led by Mirelva Mondini, a former high school teacher who doesn't make or play violins herself but is devoted to keep the school going.
"The design of the violin hasn't changed because Stradivari was the best," says Giorgio Scolari, a "maestro" master instructor, who has taught at the school since the 1920's.
Restoration is where the real work is. In the hands of top musicians, violins must work hard. Musicians travel constantly. Concerts are played in hot, humid conditions one day, dry conditions the next. The wood expands and contracts. The strings put pressure on the bridge, the finger-board and the scroll. Some of the average violin's 75 parts have to be replaced every few years. Making, restoring and repairing violins has given Cremona a new lease on life.
Most of this information is from
The Globe and Mail newspaper,
January 26, 2010
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