violin

Since 1993, following the death of its then-owner, the violin had been part of the Oskar Back Study Fund Foundation. Through that fund, the violin was first loaned to Renate van Riel. The violin proved to be a perfect fit for her, and she had developed a close bond with it. In 1997, after completing her violin studies, she had to return the violin with a heavy heart due to the fund’s terms and conditions. After Renate, the violin was played successively by Nienke van Rijn, Marije Greevink, Eduardo Langarica Cavani, and Mirjam Wijzenbeek. In 2009, the Oskar Back Study Fund decided to discontinue its instrument collection. The family of the then-owner decided to continue the violin’s loan through the Musical Instrument Fund. This allowed Mirjam Wijzenbeek to keep the violin until 2013. After that, the violin went to Ian van den Berk, who returned it in 2015. The Music Instrument Fund was then informed by the owners that Renate van Riel had once had such a close bond with the Testore and that she still thought back on the violin with nostalgia. Renate, who had been playing Theo Olof’s Pique violin to her satisfaction for ten years by then, was approached by the Musical Instrument Fund and asked if she would like to “reunite” with her old love. And it turned out very well, because after a period of trying it out, it became clear that her love for the Testore had been completely rekindled. So, after ten years, she has been reunited with the Testore!