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Fiddlershop is a proud, long-time carrier of Cremonese instruments. Our team recently returned from Cremona, the violin-making capital of the world!
Fiddlershop Founder and CEO Pierre Holstein (aka Fiddlerman), and Artistic Director Joe Adkins recently returned from Cremona, Italy. There, the two violinists attended Mondomusica, an exhibition and festival hosted annually by Cremona Musica’s International Expo, celebrating the art of lutherie, or the making of string instruments.
If you’ve browsed Fiddlershop’s collection of Fine and Antique Violins, you’ve likely noticed the name “Cremona” on several listings. This charming Italian town of just over 70,000 people holds a massive place in music history. There, in the 16th century, Andrea Amati revolutionized string instruments by transforming earlier oval and pear-shaped designs into the iconic hourglass-shaped violin family we recognize today. His groundbreaking work laid the foundation for history’s most celebrated luthiers, including Stradivari and Guarneri, both lifelong residents and craftsmen of Cremona.
Today, Cremona remains dedicated to preserving this living legacy, a tradition so vital that UNESCO inscribed traditional violin craftsmanship in Cremona on its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2012.
This heritage runs strong in the more than 150 master luthiers who call Cremona home. To showcase their incredible artistry to the world, Mondomusica was founded in 2002 as a part of the broader Cremona Musica International Exhibitions. Each year, this gathering transforms the city into a vibrant festival, from the world-class trade displays in the main exhibition halls, to the variety of conferences, masterclasses, and performances that take place in the surrounding historic streets.
This year’s event brought together over 450 exhibitors from 35 countries. We were truly honored to be among seventy international buyers and industry leaders invited through Mondomusica’s partnership with the Italian Trade Agency.
Beyond reconnecting with long-time friends and colleagues, making new connections, and sampling exceptional instruments, the experience held a personal resonance for our violinists.
As a violinist, visiting Cremona was a real treat. With violin shops on almost every street, you really get the sense that this is a special place for instrument making. Mondomusica was an amazing experience; I was inspired by the level of craftsmanship, and I'm excited to share that with our customers.
- Joe
We are already counting down the days until next year’s trip to Cremona’s Mondomusica. In the meantime, we’re proud to share this incredible heritage with you directly through our collection of Cremonese instruments by makers such as Stefano Trabucchi, Andrea Varazzani, and more.
Keep an eye out for news of Fiddlershop’s own exhibition of Cremonese instruments in March, 2027! We can’t wait to share even more of these remarkable instruments with our community.
