A cello from Stradivari’s ’golden period, it is now played by Andreas Brantelid
Launched in 1990, the Anders Sveaas Charitable Foundation is one of the principal arts funders in Norway. The Strad Calendar 2027 celebrates its work by showcasing twelve of the finest instruments it loans out to players all over the Nordic region – including eleven by Antonio Stradivari.
1707 ‘Boni-Hegar’ Stradivari cello
The 1707 ‘Boni-Hegar’ Stradivari cello has had an interesting history, having been cut down in the 19th century and then later restored to its original dimensions; its body length is now 757mm. There is a possibility that the cello is one of the first that Stradivari ever made on his famous ‘B form’, which ultimately transformed the instrument.
The back, ribs and scroll are made from poplar rather than maple, which is typical of Stradivari’s mature work, and the growth rings are particularly visible on the back. The varnish is golden-brown, on a golden ground. The top plate is made from two pieces of narrow-grained spruce that widens towards the flanks.
The cello is named after Livio Boni, an Italian cellist who often played for members of the British royal family; and who received the cello from a Professor J. Hegar in 1938. Records also show that it was owned by Olive-Charlier Vaslin, a well-known 19th-century cellist and pedagogue who taught at the Conservatoire de Paris, his students including Jacques Offenbach and Auguste Tolbecque. The cello is now played by Andreas Brantelid.
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Photos: J&A Beare
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