New Stradivarius exhibition at MIM set to take viewers on fascinating trip through music history

This exhibition will introduce MIM’s guests to influential makers.

PUBLISHED OCT 1, 2024

MIM's exhibition will present more than 70 violins, guitars, lutes, and bows made by Antonio Stradivari and others.

Phoenix, Arizona: Opening Friday, November 8, MIM’s exclusive new exhibition Stradivarius and the Golden Age of Violins and Guitars presents more than 70 violins, guitars, lutes, and bows made by Antonio Stradivari and other preeminent European makers of the 16th to the 19th century.

These renowned makers include Andrea Amati, the founding father of the violin, and Giuseppe Guarneri “del Gesù,” who ranks alongside Stradivari as one of the most extraordinary violin makers of all time.

This violin, made by Andrea Amati in the 1560s, is one of only 23 documented surviving Amati instruments.

“The name Stradivarius is synonymous with the pinnacle of violin making,” says Matthew Zeller, MIM’s curator for Europe. “Other European instrument makers achieved similar levels of excellence. This exhibition will introduce MIM’s guests to these influential makers and reveal many fascinating connections between violin making and guitar making, providing guests with an opportunity to relate centuries-old masterworks to modern instruments in their own lives.”

What is the world's most expensive violin?

The world's most expensive violin is the 'Messiah Stradivarius', crafted by Antonio Stradivari in 1716. This violin is renowned for its near-perfect preservation and exceptional sound quality. As of the last known estimates, the Messiah Stradivarius is valued at over $20 million, although it's worth noting that it hasn't been sold in a public transaction. It's currently held at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England, where it is on display.