cello

In 1998, cellist Quirine Viersen approached the Music Instrument Fund with a “plea” asking whether the fund might be able to acquire this cello for her. At the time, she was borrowing the instrument from her teacher, the great cellist Heinrich Schiff, who in turn had acquired it from his teacher André Navarra (1911–1988), which explains the name “Ex-Navarra.” At the time, Schiff wanted to purchase a very special cello for himself and was forced to sell his Guarneri cello to finance the purchase. This put the foundation under significant time pressure, as the purchase had to be finalized by December 31, 1998; otherwise, the cello would be offered on “the market.” The foundation launched an intensive fundraising campaign. There were discussions and correspondence with sponsors and various (cultural) foundations; a contribution was also requested from the government in the context of cultural preservation. Ultimately, thanks to substantial contributions from the Louisa van der Velden Foundation, the Cultuurfonds, the JCP Foundation, the KF Heinfonds Foundation, and an anonymous foundation, enough money was raised to close the purchase exactly on time, together with additional financing. Heinrich Schiff was also very pleased that the cello had been acquired for Quirine Viersen, thereby continuing the Navarra lineage. Quirine has had the cello on loan from the Musical Instrument Fund since 1999, but she has been playing it since 1997.