Australian violinist Emily Sun has been named the next custodian of ‘The Adelaide’ violin, crafted in Milan in 1753–57 by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini (1711–1786).

Currently held in trust by UKARIA, the instrument was purchased by the people of South Australia in 1955. Today it is valued at over US$1M.

“This Guadagnini has a ‘golden’ sound,” said Sun. “I feel very privileged to play on this beautiful instrument, during this fleeting period of its already long life and history. The tone is very warm, dark and rich; very even and homogenous across the registers.”

Emily Sun and the Guadagnini violin. Photo supplied

The violin’s Australian story is a fascinating one. In the early 1950s, Carmel Hakendorf was invited by Sir John Barbirolli to give her debut in London. Her excitement was tempered, however, by the poor quality of her violin.

The Music Committee of South Australia stepped in and launched a public subscription. With the help of several performances by Carmel, it raised £1,750 (equivalent to about AU$110,000 today), enough at that time to purchase a violin crafted by the revered luthier Guadagnini.

In August 1955, the South Australian Guadagnini Violin Trust was...