Stories of passing on a legacy: two new violins join our collection of instruments

The Talents & Violon’celles instrument collection is expanding thanks to the trust and generosity of its patrons. We are delighted to welcome two exceptional new instruments, which reflect our dual commitment to preserving our heritage and supporting contemporary violin-making: an antique Venetian violin by the master Matteo Goffriller and a new violin fresh from Francesco Coquoz’s workshop. The story of two wonderful human adventures.

The Goffriller violin: a family treasure returns to the stage

The history of this magnificent antique violin, valued at around €160,000, is closely linked to the Bernaud family. Originally owned by their grandfather – an amateur violinist, violist and flautist from a family with a strong musical tradition (vintage photographs bear witness to joyful impromptu quartets on the beaches of Brittany) – the instrument’s authenticity was only revealed to the next generation. Éric Bernaud’s father discovered that it was, in fact, a genuine Goffriller, finally realising why his grandfather would rush to lock it away in the safe whenever he was away!

After having been entrusted for several years to the talented Thomas Lefort — who returned it as soon as he was able to acquire his own instrument — the violin remained in the family. Upon the death of their father, Éric Bernaud, his sister and his two brothers inherited it. Eager to see this legacy come to life once more, and guided by the invaluable advice of the Coquoz workshop, the siblings chose to entrust the management of its loan to Talents & Violon’celles.

A new chapter is beginning for this master instrument, which is currently in the process of being loaned to a talented musician.

The Francesco Coquoz violin: the undimmed passion of a self-taught entrepreneur

Francesco Coquoz in his studio on Rue de Rome in Paris

The second violin is a contemporary instrument. Commissioned from the Parisian violin maker Francesco Coquoz, it was funded by a long-standing patron of our endowment fund, Mr Bernard Hodac. He has already entrusted us with a violin by Francis Kuttner, currently played by the young violinist Anaïs Colin.

Bernard Hodac’s journey is that of a free spirit and a deeply intuitive individual. A professional violinist in the early part of his life, he subsequently chose to forge his own path in the business world. A self-taught entrepreneur with an unconventional career, he founded and now heads the Osmos Group, an organisation that has become an international benchmark in the field of technical monitoring of historic buildings and monuments.

Having never lost his deep-seated love of music, this visionary with a sure instinct wished to reaffirm his support for the younger generation by commissioning this superb contemporary piece, which is also in the process of being awarded.

146 instruments to nurture talent

With the arrival of these two magnificent violins, the collection of instruments managed by Talents & Violon’celles now totals 146. Whether antique or contemporary, each one embodies a unique convergence of an owner’s generosity, a luthier’s craftsmanship and a musician’s future.

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Further reading:

Find out more about the diversity and workings of our collection on our page dedicated to Talents & Violon’celles’ Heritage Commitment.