Violoncellos - Famous Cellos

Famous Cellos

Specific instruments are, or become, famous, for a variety of reasons. An instrument's notability may arise from its age, the fame of its maker, its physical appearance, its acoustic properties, and its use by notable performers. The most famous instruments are generally known for all of these things. The most highly prized instruments are now collector's items, and are priced beyond the reach of most musicians. These instruments are typically owned by some kind of organization or investment group, which loans the instrument to a performer. (For example, the Davidov Stradivarius, which is currently in the possession of one of the most widely known living cellists, Yo-Yo Ma, is actually owned by the Vuitton Foundation.)

Some notable cellos:

• the "King", by Andrea Amati, is one of the oldest known cellos, built between 1538 and 1560. It is in the collection of the National Music Museum in South Dakota.
• Servais Stradivarius is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC
• Davidov Stradivarius, played by Jacqueline du Pré, currently played by Yo-Yo Ma
• Barjansky Stradivarius, played by Julian Lloyd Webber
• Bonjour Stradivarius, played by Soo Bae
• Paganini-Ladenburg Stradivarius, played by Clive Greensmith of the Tokyo String Quartet
• Duport Stradivarius, formerly played by Mstislav Rostropovich
• Piatti Stradivarius, 1720, played by Carlos Prieto