Since 1660, when Antonio Stradivari set up his violin shop in Cremona, the instruments he made have been famous for the quality of sound they produce. Theories about the reason for this perceived superiority have bubbled up through the centuries: the wood was salvaged from old cathedrals (debunked); Europe’s “Little Ice Age” from 1645-1750 created a denser wood (debunked); the wood preservatives used were somehow unusual (no proof whatsoever). Some even deny that there is anything special about the sound of the Stradivarius at all, pointing to a famous 1977 experiment in which violinists Isaac Stern and Pinchas Zukerman along with violin expert Charles Beare tried to distinguish among a Strad, a del Gesu, a Vuillaume and a 1976 British-made violin, all played behind a screen by a professional soloist. They were unsuccessful. The mystery, if there is one, is still unsolved, but we can now eliminate one more theory: it’s not the varnish: www.nytimes.com

Nevertheless, all that said, North Carolina Symphony musicians do believe violins made by Stradivari do have an baffling specialness.

Jackie Saed Wolborsky, Associate Principal Violin II:

Strads have a miraculously special sound. With all the technology today, modern makers cannot seem to unravel how this sound is produced. The Stradivarius quality of sound and projection are unmatched by any other instrument-ok, maybe a Guarneri Del Gesu. I think of these unbelievably old violins like people that have aged and matured over time. As we get older we (hopefully) grow wiser, with added depth from our experiences and refined individuality and unique character. This is exactly how I would describe an old, brilliant Strad.

Rebekah Binford, Assistant Concertmaster:

Generally the top violin makers are considered to be Antonio Stradivari and Joseph del Gesu Guanari. One source, The International Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians (Dodd, Mead) states that Stradivari's violins are considered the more beautiful of design, with a more refined tone and precise execution. Guarnari's violins tend to be bigger, louder but with a few exceptions they lack the refinement of Stradivari's violins. Interestingly, there is a huge disparity among musicians about who is the best: many seem to love one maker and tend to revile the other as if it was some kind of competition. Some prefer the sound of the Stradivarius while others worship the power and volume of the Guarnerius. Personally, I generally prefer the refinement of a Strad and the best ones can match most Guarnerius' in volume. It has been much rarer in my experience for a Guarnerius to match the silken tones of the Strad. Why is this? If we knew that, every violin maker would be producing equivalents of the Strad. Is it the wood, the varnish, who knows? I personally believe that it is the hands of the master sculptor and perhaps a little of their inner selves that they infuse into each of their masterpieces that make them divine.

Dovid Friedlander, Associate Concertmaster:

The foremost thing one needs to understand about Strads (and all great violin makers) is that not all Strads are great, but there are some GREAT Strads. What makes theses Strads great is craftsmanship, the art by which Strad made his instruments. He started using a flatter patterned top piece made out of exceptional wood, which gave the great ones a very powerful, beautiful sound. He was one of the first to do this. A lot of the good ones, have a HUGE, sweet, round, brilliant sound. But one thing one must understand, is that the violin is only as great as the player. Don't get me started on the heated debate over modern vs. old!!

Karen Strittmatter Galvin, Assistant Concertmaster:

While Strads are undoubtedly beautiful instruments with gorgeous sound, I am of the opinion that there is also a huge amount of hype that is sold along with the multi-million dollar price tag. Beautiful though it may be, a Stradivarius is just a curvy box made out of spruce and maple. The instrument by itself does nothing but look beautiful. The warm singing tone for which these violins are famous is the result of the violin being played by a musician with meticulous ears, a flawless touch, and artistic refinement. A Strad in the wrong hands can sound as bad as a violin bought from Ebay for $100. To that same point, there are many violins that with the right violinist (and a talented luthier) can sound like a million dollars. The violinist defines the violin.