Francesco Ruggieri (1620-c. 1695) was the first and greatest of a family of violin makers working at Cremona, Italy. A pupil of Nicolo Amati, he patterned his instruments, with some modifications, ...

The special guest star is violinist Bella Hristova and her 1655 Nicoló Amati violin playing a contemporary work by her husband, composer David Ludwig. I’ve heard some great violinists in my ...