VC Young Artist Jonian Ilias Kadesha is Loaned “Ex-Moser” Guarneri del Gesù Violin

The Greek-Albanian violinist has been loaned the c.1743 violin made by Bartolomeo Giuseppe Guarneri from a private collection

The c.1743 “Ex-Moser” Guarneri del Gesù violin is named for German violinist and pedagogue Andreas Moser, who was handed the instrument by his violin teacher Joseph Joachim.

“I am and feel extremely lucky to start playing on this incredibly beautiful violin…It will be loaned to me on a long-term basis from a private collection,” wrote VC Young Artist Jonian Ilias Kadesha in a Facebook post. 

The violin has also been played by artist and amateur violinist Paul Klee, and in recent years, by eminent violinists Ulf Hoelscher and Ilya Gringolts. As archived by Tarisio, its other owners have included Frau Haas-Pfister, as well as Henry Werro.

Crafted in Cremona by Bartolomeo Giuseppe Guarneri, the “Ex-Moser” is among approximately 150 to 250 of his violins which are known to exist, alongside some violas and at least one violoncello that are attributed to him, according to Mio Cannone.

“I am looking forward to exploring and taming it a little, as it is quite a beast,” Jonian said of his new instrument. “I would like to thank from my heart Stephan Jansen & @stretton society for loaning to me the amazing and brilliant Nicolas Lupot, which I really enjoyed playing and learned a lot from!”

Previously, Jonian played on the 1749 Giovanni Battista Guadagnini violin, also on private loan. 

A student of Antje Weithaas at the Kronberg Academy and a former student of Salvatore Accardo, Grigori Zhislin, and Ulf Wallin, Jonian was a first prize winner at the 2018 Young Classical Artists Trust Auditions.

He has appeared with orchestras including the Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, CHAARTS Chamber Orchestra, Athens State Symphony Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra, Erfurt Philharmonic Orchestra, and Meiningen Staatskapelle.