Wanna Zambelli ricorda il maestro liutaio Simone Fernando Sacconi a 130 anni dalla nascita

A 130 years after the birth of Simone Fernando Sacconi (Rome, 1895 – New York, 1973), his former student Wanna Zambelli offers a personal reflection on him. Recognized as a leading Italian-American luthier of the 20th century, Sacconi was known for his ability to convey complex knowledge simply and for his warm demeanor towards everyone. Zambelli first met him in 1968 at the International School of Violin Making in Cremona during one of his rare visits. In 1971, he provided her with advice while examining the cello she was building. Between summer and autumn of 1972, she frequently visited him at Francesco Bissolotti's workshop as he completed 'I segreti di Stradivari' and developed a new varnish inspired by Stradivari. Sacconi collaborated with renowned musicians such as Casals, Kreisler, Heifetz, Stern, Menuhin, Rostropovich, and Perlman, as well as composers like Toscanini, Strauss, and Debussy. He restored over three hundred antique instruments while working at Herrmann and Wurlitzer in New York. Zambelli emphasizes Sacconi's legacy: the importance of artisan creativity, patience, and care, especially in contrast to industrial production and artificial intelligence. After 44 years of teaching at the Cremona School of Violin Making, she asserts that true luthiery can only result from human effort.