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A screenshot from the Euronews video

Marco Fornaciari, violin and viola, and Leonardo Colonna, double bass:

Fornaciari with Emanuele Beschi:

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The work of Gio Paolo Maggini, his master Gasparo da Salò and the Brescian school of makers is celebrated next month in a major exhibition in Brescia’s Palazzo Martinengo. More than 30 instruments will be on display, including five violins, four violas, a cello and four double basses by Maggini; a violin and three violas by Gasparo; an early viola by Pellegrino di Zanetto de Micheli; and instruments by Giovanni Battista Rogeri and his son Pietro Giacomo Rogeri.

Experts speaking at the event include Charles Beare, Eric Blot, Carlo Chiesa, John Topham and John Dilworth. ‘It should be a major reassessment and celebration of Maggini and the Brescian school, which is long overdue’, said Dilworth. ‘Maggini was the first major violin maker outside Cremona. His violins get overlooked by modern soloists because they’re big, but they are very dark and powerful. They were a great influence from a tonal point of view on the later Cremonese makers, including Stradivari and ‘del Gesù’ in their late instruments. But most sought-after of all are Maggini’s violas. Brescian makers in general set the tonal benchmark for violas.’

Listen to the interview:
Download audio file (interview_france_musique.mp3)

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Gio Paolo Maggini
secoli di dettagli

International Violin Making Exhibition

Brescia, Palazzo Martinengo
June 9 – July 8, 2007

Supported by the Province of Brescia

Directed by: Emanuele Beschi e Francesco Lattuada
Associazione Nuove Settimane Barocche

Conceived and and co-ordinated by: Filippo Fasser

Scientific committee: Charles Beare, Eric Blot, Carlo Chiesa, John Dilworth, Ugo Ravasio, Christopher Reuning, Duane Rosengard

Exhibition design: Antonio Gardoni

Supported by the Province of Brescia, the Association Nuove Settimane Barocche, with the artistic direction of Emanuele Beschi and Francesco Lattuada, will bring to light in Brescia the masterpieces of Brescian Ancient violin making school, worldwide known through the works of Giovanni Paolo Maggini and his master, Gasparo da Salò.

The event will be co-ordinated by Filippo Fasser with the participation of the major experts in the field such as Charles Beare, Eric Blot, Carlo Chiesa, John Dilworth, Ugo Ravasio, Christopher Reuning, Duane Rosengard, John Topham.

Taking place in the rooms of Palazzo Martinengo, the Exhibition will include extraordinary violins, violas, cellos and double basses coming from some of the most important private collections in the world and chosen between the most significant works of authors like Girolamo Virchi, Pellegrino and Zanetto da Montichiari, Giovanni Paolo Maggini, Gian Battista e Pietro Giacomo Ruggeri.

Furthermore, there will be instruments made by authors inspired by Brescian Tradition.

The exhibition is conceived as a journey through time whose aim is not only to get to know Giovanni Paolo Maggini’s works, but also that of underlining their influence on the history of Classic violin making from the 17th century to the first half of the 20th century. It is actually well known how Brescian Instruments have had and still have a leading role in the past and present concert life.

In this perspective there will be some significant meetings with those musicians who have chosen to play such instruments and who will perform during the exhibition.

First of all, Danilo Rossi, the exhibition testimonial and presently the owner of the great Dino Asciolla’s viola, whose sound still mesmerises the entire world with its magic.

For further information: info@giopaolomaggini.com

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