The OP Art Foundation acquired the violin made by Carlo Antonio Testore in 1730 for its collection in 1982.
The Testore violin beautifully represents the skill of the famous Milanese Testore violin making family. The maker of the violin was Carlo Antonio Testore, the son of Carlo Giuseppe Testore, who was the family’s first violin maker. Milanese instruments have always been popular among musicians because of their expansive and full sound. The Testore has been built extremely carefully, and its influences, for example, from Stradivari are obvious.
Perhaps the most internationally famous player of a Testore instrument has been the founder of the Moscow Soloists, Yuri Bashmet, whose orchestra has received numerous awards throughout the world.
The Art Foundation’s Testore is currently played by Lotus Tinat. The violin’s previous holder was Emma Mali.
