Michele Angelo Bergonzi – Violin Maker – Cremona

As a descendant of Stradivari Carlo Bergonzi and a spiritual successor to Guarneri, Michele Angelo Bergonzi (1721-1758) was the final representative of Cremona’s violin-making tradition in the mid-eighteenth century. His work reflects his impressive pedigree while also reflecting the struggles facing his city and industry.

Bergonzi took over Casa Stradivari following his father’s death in 1747, and he used his father’s models, as well as Stradivari’s smallest cello patterns. While Bergonzi’s work is inconsistent–largely due to the dearth of quality materials available–he created some very fine, powerful instruments.