Kreisler Bergonzi
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The Kreisler Bergonzi is a famous violin made by the renown Italian luthier Carlo Bergonzi in 1740.
The violin is named after violinist Fritz Kreisler. After being forced to donate his valuable Guarnerius to the Library of Congress to settle a tax debt with the IRS, Kreisler used this Bergonzi violin as his main instrument for performing for over ten years near the end of his career. He made many recordings with the instrument, and on some of the album covers he can be seen holding it.
Fritz Kreisler passed the instrument onto Cuban violinist Angel Reyes who in turn made it available to Itzhak Perlman. Perlman recorded the Khachaturian Concerto on the Kreisler Bergonzi and on the cover of the album he is pictured holding it. After Perlman, the violin was played by Ruben Gonzales, who was the concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony.
Of all Cremonese instruments, the Kreisler Bergonzi is one of the best preserved. Its original neck remains as well as most of the original varnish. There has been very little repair work required on it. It is one of the best sounding of all Bergonzi violins.
