Stars & Strings

The violin “ex Hämmerle” has an eventful history to look back on, which has seen it through the centuries and carried across continents. Built in 1709 by Antonio Stradivari in Cremona, it was initially owned by a Scottish noble family. In 1907 it was acquired by the Austrian industrialist Theodor Hämmerle, after whom it is still named today, who then sold it to the American violinist and philanthropist Max Adler in 1922. Today, the violin is part of the Austrian National Bank’s collection of historical string instruments, founded in 1989, which now comprises 45 instruments of the highest quality. However, their intention is not to let the instruments simply lie in vaults, but to make them permanently available to Austrian musicians, so that they may continue to serve their musical purpose. The “ex Hämmerle” is currently played by Albena Danailova, who is the first woman to hold a concertmaster position with the Vienna Philharmonic since 2008. As a soloist, and additionally as part of a duo with Christoph Traxler – who has made a name for himself internationally as a soloist and chamber musician, as well as a teacher – she will allow her instrument to resound to its highest potential throughout this concert.