It has been love at first sight. I tried this wonderful model, inspired to Giarneri del Gesu for the first time after the last coat of varnish and I immediately undertood the great potential: rich sound, fully dramatic and vibrants colors. In many aspects it is so close to Caravaggio's painting, almost as if it wanted to reproduce his pasty brushstrokes and subdued light.

Pierluigi Di Cosola

Violin player

Ik heb Ornella leren kennen in Bari en begreep meteen dat ik te doen had met een begeesterde, toegewijde en getalenteerde vrouw. Daarom heb ik zonder enige twijfel mijn instrument, een Franse Mirecourt-cello aan haar toevertrouwd voor een grondige restauratie. Het instrument was er belabberd aan toe: het was jaren geleden na een val op een stenen vloer in verschillende stukken gebroken en door een minder getalenteerde Italiaanse vioolbouwer in elkaar gezet. De klank was zo goed als verdwenen en er zaten scheuren op verschillende plekken. Omdat Ornella geïnteresseerd was in een meestercursus in Nederland heb ik haar in contact gebracht met mijn vriend Guust François, die ik al kende als een groot vakman. Samen hebben ze er een paar maanden aan gewerkt en een voortreffelijke prestatie geleverd. Mijn cello ziet er weer piekfijn uit en - nog veel belangrijker: hij klinkt weer als nooit tevoren.

Frans Van Munster

Cello player

I have had the pleasure of playing an Ornella Ceci Viola since 2011, the year the instrument was built. Commissioned to the talented luthier as my first instrument, it was entirely designed and created based on my physical physiognomy, as regards the choice of size and my taste for the choice of paint tones. The instrument, with a 40.5 cm body, presents a warm sound in the medium-low range and a very bright sound in the high range.

Pamela Rosato

Viola player

"I have known Ornella Ceci for several years and I have always noticed in her a great professionalism and dedication in her work. I consider her as a luthier of great value, very knowledgeable in the construction and set up of bowed instruments. Personally she worked with extreme precision on the restoration and cracks of my antique French bows."

Gabriele Ceci

Concertmaster at Philarmonic Orchestra of Petruzzelli Theater, Bari (IT)

I purchased my Stradivari "Sleeping Beauty" model violin from Ornella Ceci and after a year of anxious waiting, I was finally able to hold it in my hands. It was totally worth it: powerful and elegant sound, thin neck, suitable for my tapered hand. For the first time a tool that adapts to me and not vice versa. Advised!

Maura Lospalluti

Violin student at Conservatory of Bari (IT)

This viola 42 - the Ornella Ceci no. 25 - is different from all the other violas I tried over the last 30 years, and this is the one I was looking for! Such a rich, deep and powerful sound and such a pleasure to play. It gives everything I want and even more…I learn from this instrument. And I love the Capicchioni-inspired model, just like the beautiful flamed wood and honey-like varnish. A wonderful instrument!

Joost Honselaar

Viola player

I purchased Ornella Ceci's viola a few years ago. I think I was really lucky: an instrument still in progress was then created based on my requests and my tastes! It is a 40.5 cm viola, it is really comfortable and easy to handle both for the neck and the soundboard. Since it is a new instrument, the sound produced is really excellent for an instrument still in the process of being set up. I think that as time goes by it will improve visibly just as it has happened in these last years and a little more.

Annalisa Salvemini

Viola player