Riccardo Bergonzi, Cremona 2003

Riccardo Bergonzi, born 1961 in Cremona, started playing violin at age nine and fell in love with the instrument. Bergonzi started working in the shop of the maker Stefano Conia, where he built his first violin. At the Cremona School of Violinmaking, Bergonzi studied under Francesco Bissolotti and other prominent makers. He graduated at the top of his class in 1979 and was offered a teaching position at the school just three months later. After ten years of teaching, Bergonzi retired from the school to devote more time to his workshop. His instruments have earned him many awards, including first prize for a viola at the 1991 Cremona Triennial Competition. Maestro Bergonzi’s instruments have been featured several times in the Cremona Violinmaking Exhibition at Brobst Violin Shop. This fine violin has a vibrant red-orange varnish. It has a two piece back of broadly flamed maple with matching sides, neck, and scroll. The top is made of medium grained spruce. It has a powerful sound that is brilliant and clear. It is to be sold with a certificate from the maker dated September 2003.