Exhibitions of the Orpheon Foundation
The Vazquez Collection of Historical String Instruments
Violins, Violas da gamba, Viola d'amore, Violoncellos, Double Basses
from 1500 to 1789
The Orpheon exhibitions: a photographic panorama

L'Abbaye de Noirlac, France
June 29 - July 29, 2007

L'Abbaye de Noirlac, France
Abbaye de Noirlac, France


Orpheon Foundation, Vazquez Collection


Orpheon Foundation, Vazquez Collection


Orpheon Foundation, Vazquez Collection


Orpheon Foundation, Vazquez Collection


Orpheon Foundation, Vazquez Collection


viola da gamba pardessus Louis Guersan, Paris, ca. 1740



Orpheon Foundation, Vazquez Collection


Orpheon Foundation, Vazquez Collection



Orpheon Foundation, Vazquez Collection


Orpheon Foundation, Vazquez Collection


viola by Johann Christoph Leidolff, Vazquez Collection, Orpheon Foundation
Viola and two violins by Johann Christoph Leidolff, Vienna, 1719, 1747, 1748

viola da gamba in England: Orpheon Foundation, Vazquez Collection
Three violas da gamba by William Turner, London, ca. 1650
Copy of a tenor viola da gamba by John Rose, London, ca. 1600

viola da gamba William Turner, Vazquez Collection, Orpheon Foundation viola da gamba William Turner, Vazquez Collection, Orpheon Foundation
Viola da gamba: bass and treble, by William Turner, London, ca. 1650



Pardessus viola da gamba by Louis Guersan, Paris, ca. 1740, Orpheon Foundation

Pardessus viola da gamba by Louis Guersan, Paris, ca. 1740, Orpheon Foundation

Pardessus viola da gamba by Louis Guersan, Paris, ca. 1740, Orpheon Foundation

Pardessus viola da gamba by Louis Guersan, Paris, ca. 1740, Orpheon Foundation
Pardessus viola da gamba by Louis Guersan, Paris, ca. 1740


viola da gamba by Michael Albanus, Jakob Stainer, Vazquez Collection, Orpheon Foundation
Viola da gamba in the Habsburg Empire:
Two basses by Michael Albanus, Graz, 1706 and Jakob Steiner, Absam, 1671
Two anonymous treble viols, dating from ca. 1730; the tops of these two trebles
were made from the same tree!


viola da gamba by Joachim Tielke, Vazquez Collection, Orpheon Foundation
Viola da gamba by Joachim Tielke, Hamburg, 1683
Previously owned by Christian Döbereiner (left) and
Eva Heinitz (right)





Baryton, Vazquez Collection, Orpheon Foundation
Baryton Trio: Baryton, violin, violoncello

Display from the Instrument-making School of Hallstatt, Austria
showing how a violin is made


The Operation of the Bladder Stone


Surgical operation table, copy after an original of the 17th Century by Scott Wallace
Surgical utensils, descriptions, engravings.
Musical portrait of the Operation of the Bladder Stone by Marin Marais
We are looking for a volunteer to perform a historical operation of the bladder stone
using original instruments of the period.


Visitors and Special Events


The first official visit





A concert for two violas da gamba: José Vázquez & Lúcia Krommer performed
Tobias Hume, Johann Schenck, St. Colombe and others



























Tormod Dalen, a professional Baroque cellist from Norway,
trying out several of the original bows of the collection



An unexpected surprise: Prof. Philippe Pierlot, trying out the
bass viola da gamba by Michael Albanus, Graz, 1706



An impromptu trio: Suite in G-major from the fourth book of Pièces de Viole by Marin Marais
performed by Lúcia Krommer, Philippe Pierlot and José Vázquez on violas da gamba by
Matthias Albanus (Graz, 1706), Joachim Tielke (Hamburg, 1683) and Jakob Stainer (Absam, 1671)
Philippe's daughter turned pages




The Luthier, Alain Granieri, spent several days examining, measuring viols and
drawing plans for making copies. Here measuring the bass viol by Jakob Stainer, 1671





A session with French Television: France 3



Altogether, a very joyfull event in the Abbaye de Noirlac

More to come!

updated 20.11.2007