Stradivarius 1696 Cello "Lord Aylesford"

As soon as I played the first couple of notes on the “Lord Aylesford”, I became very enthusiastic about the quality of sound Stradivarius has - charm, nobleness and clearness. It was hard to believe that I was actually playing on Stradivarius and it seemed like I was still in my dream. Now having played on “Lord Aylesford” for about a month, I think that the cello has made a wonderful development after almost 40 years of dormancy when it was not played by anyone.
The world of Stradivarius is so deep and complex that exploring and understanding the instrument would take some time. However, I am convinced that "Lord Aylesford" will help me clearly draw a musical picture I have been pursuing. (February 2004)

(From NMF Concert program April 22, 2004)