The Stradivari Foundation Habisreutinger-Huggler-Coray was founded in 1964 by Mr. Rolf Habisreutinger. As the son of a textile company, he discovered music at a young age. As an amateur cellist, he was not only interested in classical instruments. Collecting stamps, wine and cars were among his other hobbies. He was considered an excellent rally driver, mainly in Bentleys and Jaguars. His great passion, however, was for string instruments. Especially those from Cremona. His collection included more than 10 “Stradivari”. Today, the foundation owns six of them: 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos, and since 2018 a violin made by his son Omobono Stradivari. The “Gustav Mahler 1672” viola is one of the collection's showpieces and represents a highlight of Stradivari's early creative period. Since the death of the founder (1991), the foundation has been run according to his ideas. In 2022, a Giovanni Battista Guadagnini violin from 1755 and a violoncello by Francesco Goffriller (ca. 1740) were added to the collection thanks to a donation from the Huggler-Coray family.

 

The instruments are temporarily made available to musicians who are either already internationally established or who can be supported in their artistic development, career progression or with regard to competitions through the use of the instruments. It is desirable that the musicians have a connection to Switzerland. The Foundation Board decides on the allocation of the instruments.

 

The current Board of Trustees is made up of 6 people. Their professions are: Lawyer, banking, politics, violin making, technology, music.

 

Curdin Coray, President

Christoph Müller, Vice President​

Hans Martin Diener, Secretary

Roger Habisreutinger

Martin Haupt

Martin R. Klöti