Peter Sheppard Skærved is the only violinist to have performed on the personal violins of Viotti, Paganini, Joachim, Kreisler and Ole Bull. In this new series, he plays music on these and many more instruments, many of which only he has access to. This album features the 1647 Amati (made while Stradivarius was a pupil of Amati!) which was the world-famous “Pearl’ of Norwegian violinist and composer Ole Bull. This instrument was out of public view for over 100 years, until recently brought back into active service, and it is a true gem. The CD is a reconstruction of a typical salon recital; as well as formal concerts, Bull gave less formal salon concerts which made his name throughout Europe and the USA.

The series is supported by the Royal Academy of Music in London, the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. and many other museums and institutions. Volume 3 will present the complete solo sonatas and partitas of J.S. Bach, played on the renowned ‘Joachim’ Stradivari of 1698.