How does a young talent such as viola player Benedetta Bucci acquire a quality instrument? Just like the paintings by the great masters, string instruments crafted by famous makers also attract exorbitant prices. How fortunate for young musicians, then, that there are foundations such as the Pro Canale Fondazione!
It was founded in Milan in 1999 with the aim of acquiring string instruments by Italian masters of the 17th and 18th centuries, restoring them and loaning them for free to talented young players. Thanks not least to the backing of collectors and philanthropists, the foundation currently owns 46 historic string instruments, including two Stradivariuses and several Guarneris, Guadagninis and Bergonzis.
It is thanks to the foundation that Benedetta can play a viola by Francesco Presbler dating from 1786.