Credit: MLIE
Maison Luxembourgeoise des Instruments d’Exception (Luxembourg House of Exceptional Instruments), a Luxembourg-based alternative investment fund that collects and preserves exceptional historic string instruments with the aim of making them available to musicians, announced The Living Exhibition of Exceptional Cellos, which will take place from Thursday 29 October to Saturday 7 November 2026 at the Mövenpick Hotel in Amsterdam.
According to the organisation, the Luxembourg-based collection includes historic cellos of exceptional musical, historical and financial value. A highlight of the exhibition will be the rare gathering of three cellos from the celebrated Panormo family. Cellists and cello students will also be able to reserve a playing session on a historic master instrument.
Vincenzo Trusiano Panormo (1734-1813) brought the Italian tradition of violin making to London and helped establish the influence of the Stradivari model in Britain. His sons George (1776-1852) and Louis (1784-1862) continued the family legacy. George made instruments in London and Liverpool, while Louis was a designer and a driving force behind the family workshop. By placing three historic cellos linked to these names side by side, the exhibition offers a rare view of craftsmanship across two generations.
According to the fund, such a concentration is unusual even in the world of historic string instruments. Alongside the three Panormo cellos are master instruments from other European schools, including cellos by Giuseppe Guarneri ‘filius Andreae’, Carlo Tononi, Francesco Goffriller, Tomaso Balestrieri and Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume.
During the Biennale, cellists and cello students can book an individual playing session in advance at www.maisondesinstruments.com and experience one of the collection’s historic master instruments for themselves. They will have the opportunity to discover the sound and responsiveness of cellos that would normally be out of reach. This is the idea behind the Living Exhibition: the instruments remain alive in the hands of musicians.
"The financial value is impressive, but the true significance of this collection lies in the music," said Rodrique Tournel, director of MLIE. "Three Panormo cellos side by side show how craftsmanship was passed down within one family. We want people in Amsterdam to see and hear that story."
The Luxembourg collection is managed with the expertise of master luthier Gert Schrijvers, among others. Careful preservation and active musical use are central to the organisation’s approach.
Further information and playing session reservations are available at www.maisondesinstruments.com.
