ACO Instrument Fund Acquires 1610 Viola

The Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) Instrument Fund – a unique managed investment fund focused on the acquisition of historic stringed instruments – has acquired the latest instrument in its collection: a viola made in 1610 by the acclaimed Italian instrument maker Giovanni Paolo Maggini. Maggini’s tenor violas are considered masterpieces of their time, and this instrument is believed to be the only surviving example of its kind. The instrument will be played by ACO Principal Viola Stefanie Farrands.

This acquisition follows an extensive international search for a viola for Farrands, who has described performing on this viola as an honour she will cherish for the rest of her life.

The ACO established the Instrument Fund in 2011 to offer patrons and investors the rare opportunity to participate in the ownership of a bank of historic stringed instruments. An unlisted Australian unit trust available only to wholesale investors, its investment objective is to achieve long-term capital gains. The Instrument Fund currently has 48 unitholders comprising individuals, companies, family trusts and foundations, and self-managed super funds (SMSFs).

The ACO Instrument Fund currently holds four assets from the ‘Golden Age’ – instruments made in Cremona, Italy in the late-16th century to mid-18th century
– of instrument-making. In addition to the 1610 Maggini viola, the Fund also owns a 1728/29 Stradivarius violin played by ACO Principal Violin Satu Vänskä, a 1590 Brothers Amati violin played by ACO Violin Ilya Isakovich, and a 1616 Brothers Amati cello played by ACO Principal Cello Timo-Veikko Valve.
The Instrument Fund sold an instrument in its collection – a 1714 Guarneri violin – to fund the purchase of the Maggini viola.

The ACO musicians perform on the finest collection of Golden Age string instruments of any orchestra in the world, contributing to the distinctive sound of this extraordinary ensemble. In addition to the instruments owned by the Fund, the collection also includes:

• A 1741–44 Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù violin
played by Artistic Director Richard Tognetti
• The 1732 ‘ex-Dollfus’ Stradivarius violin
played by Principal Violin Helena Rathbone
• A 1759 Giovanni Battista Guadagnini violin
played by ACO Violin Liisa Pallandi
• A 1729 Giuseppe Guarneri Filius Andreæ cello
played by ACO Cello Julian Thompson
• A late-16th-century Gasparo da Salò bass
played by ACO Principal Double Bass Maxime Bibeau

 

ABOUT THE INSTRUMENT:
This 1610 viola was crafted by Giovanni Paolo Maggini, one of the most revered luthiers of the early 17th century and a pupil of Gasparo da Salò. Maggini’s tenor violas are considered masterpieces of their time, and this instrument is believed to be the only surviving example of its kind.
The viola’s provenance is remarkable: it was first owned by Henry Holmes, a distinguished English violinist and composer, before passing through renowned
dealers W. E. Hill & Sons and the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company. Later, it became part of the celebrated collection of John T. Roberts in Connecticut, alongside iconic instruments such as the “Plowden” Guarneri del Gesù and the “Betts” Stradivari. Despite its age, the instrument remains structurally sound and in excellent playing condition, thanks to careful restoration noted by expert John Dilworth.

ABOUT THE MAKER:
Giovanni Paolo Maggini (c.1580 – c.1630) was an Italian luthier from Brescia and a pupil of the legendary Gasparo da Salò. Maggini is celebrated for his exceptional
craftsmanship and innovative designs, particularly his tenor violas, which are considered among the finest of the early 17th century.
His instruments are admired for their deep, resonant tone and distinctive double purfling, a decorative feature that became his hallmark. While Maggini produced violins, violas, and cellos, his violas are especially prized for their rich sonority and rarity. Today, only a limited number of Maggini’s works survive, making them highly sought after by musicians and collectors worldwide.