“The Stretton Society is becoming the most valuable ecosystem in the world of classical music.”
For its efforts, the Stretton Society has been awarded with the European Culture Award in 2024
Welcome
to Stretton
The Stretton Society e.V. is a non-profit organization initiated in 2021 by Stephan Jansen, Maximillian von Schierstädt, and Johannes Freiherr von Salmuth.
Over the past three years the society has evolved into an international network of philanthropists with industry and cultural leadership backgrounds committed to supporting selected world-class musicians through various forward-thinking platforms. Co-initiated and orchestrated by the Stretton Violins GmbH its main mission is to grant extraordinary artists access to rare and exquisite stringed instruments by Antonio Stradivari, Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ and other important violin makers. In addition, the Stretton Society supports young musicians with outstanding talents through scholarships and mindful coaching of their careers. The Stretton Society preserves and projects culture and heritage into the future by joining the most successful artists with rising talents and presenting classical music to an inspired audience. Members and guests are invited to be part of every aspect of support, experiencing unplugged musical moments and in-depth conversations with Stretton’s protégées in a globally unique and private atmosphere.
Income for the organization is generated through donations and membership fees, which are exclusively utilized to support selected musicians through the grant of instruments, concerts, and scholarships.
“What an incredible journey – since its founding
in 2021, the Stretton Society has been able to grant
more than 20 outstanding artists rare and exquisite stringed instruments.”
Culture is fundamental to a society worth living in. However, in order to be enjoyed, art and culture have to be cultivated, lived, encouraged and supported. This commitment to cultural appreciation has been very important to my family for generations.
The Princes of Liechtenstein have been passionate art collectors for over 400 years, amassing one of the most important private collections that spans five centuries of European art. Our love and commitment to music are also deeply rooted; Princess Maria Josepha von Liechtenstein commissioned Joseph Haydn to compose five masses, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote the ‘Nacht Musik’, a wind instrument serenade for Prince Alois I of Liechtenstein. Crossing paths with such exceptional talents has been a continuous source of enrichment for my family.
Continuing this wonderful tradition of cultural commitment, initial discussions with the Stretton Society immediately revealed our shared objective: fostering sustainable support for classical musicians and closer collaboration between those who work in the cultural sector, and those who champion culture.
We look forward to a lasting partnership with the Stretton Society and an inspiring exchange of ideas.
H.S.H. Prince Max von und zu Liechtenstein
Grant of
Rare Stringed
Instruments
Committed to championing world-class musicians, a core mission of the Stretton
Society is to provide exceptional artists with access to rare and exquisite stringed instruments.
These instruments, crafted by renowned makers such as Antonio Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesù, are prized both for their artistic value and exceptional sound quality. However, their steep prices render them largely inaccessible to artists. The Stretton Society addresses this issue by facilitating connections between patrons and artists: patrons acquire these instruments, becoming their owners, and offer them to artists on a free loan.
In doing so, patrons play a vital role in nurturing, promoting, and supporting artists and their careers. Fundamentally, the Stretton Society creates a synergistic interplay between artists, patrons, and instruments. Since its founding, the Stretton Society has facilitated the granting of rare and exquisite instruments to 26 outstanding artists.
“What an incredible journey – since its founding in 2021, the Stretton Society has been able to grant more than 20 outstanding artists rare and exquisite stringed instruments.”
H.S.H. Prince Max von und zu Liechtenstein, Chairman LGT & Stretton Society Honorary Board member
Selection of artists & granted instruments
DIYANG MEI
x
ANTONIO MARIANI
VIOLA
(PESARO, C. 1646)
VILDE FRANG
x
GIUSEPPE GUARNERI ‘DEL GESÙ’,
“THE RODE” VIOLIN
(CREMONA, 1734)
DARIUS PREUSS
x
CAMILLUS CAMILLI
VIOLIN
(MANTUA, 1739)
PABLO FERRÁNDEZ
x
ANTONIO STRADIVARI
“ARCHINTO” VIOLONCELLO
(CREMONA, 1689)
DIYANG MEI
x
ANTONIO MARIANI
VIOLA
(PESARO, C. 1646)
VILDE FRANG
x
GIUSEPPE GUARNERI ‘DEL GESÙ’,
“THE RODE” VIOLIN
(CREMONA, 1734)
DARIUS PREUSS
x
CAMILLUS CAMILLI
VIOLIN
(MANTUA, 1739)
PABLO FERRÁNDEZ
x
ANTONIO STRADIVARI
“ARCHINTO” VIOLONCELLO
(CREMONA, 1689)
NOA WILDSCHUT
x
GIUSEPPE GUARNERI ‘DEL GESÙ’
“EX LADY STRETTON” VIOLIN
(CREMONA, C. 1730)
MICHAEL ELIAS LEWIN
x
GIUSEPPE ANTONIO ROCCA
“EX MALFITANO” VIOLIN
(TORINO, 1850)
ALEXANDER WARENBERG
x
ALESSANDRO D’ESPINE
“EX PAUL TORTELIER” VIOLONCELLO
(TORINO, C. 1830)
YAMEN SAADI
x
ANTONIO STRADIVARI
“EX LORD AMHERST OF HACKNEY,
EX FRITZ KREISLER” VIOLIN
(CREMONA, 1734)
NOA WILDSCHUT
x
GIUSEPPE GUARNERI ‘DEL GESÙ’
“EX LADY STRETTON” VIOLIN
(CREMONA, C. 1730)
MICHAEL ELIAS LEWIN
x
GIUSEPPE ANTONIO ROCCA
“EX MALFITANO” VIOLIN
(TORINO, 1850)
ALEXANDER WARENBERG
x
ALESSANDRO D’ESPINE
“EX PAUL TORTELIER” VIOLONCELLO
(TORINO, C. 1830)
YAMEN SAADI
x
ANTONIO STRADIVARI
“EX LORD AMHERST OF HACKNEY,
EX FRITZ KREISLER” VIOLIN
(CREMONA, 1734)
MOHAMED HIBER
x
GIOVANNI BATTISTA GUADAGNINI
“EX LIDKA” VIOLIN
(TORINO, 1780)
HAEUN HONNEY KIM
x
STEFANO SCARAMPELLA
VIOLIN
(MANTOVA, C. 1910)
TIMOTHEOS GAVRIILIDIS-PETRIN
x
GENNARO GAGLIANO
VIOLONCELLO
(NAPLES, C. 1750)
LEONHARD BAUMGARTNER
x
JEAN-BAPTISTE VUILLAUME
VIOLIN
(PARIS, 1854)
MOHAMED HIBER
x
GIOVANNI BATTISTA GUADAGNINI
“EX LIDKA” VIOLIN
(TORINO, 1780)
HAEUN HONNEY KIM
x
STEFANO SCARAMPELLA
VIOLIN
(MANTOVA, C. 1910)
TIMOTHEOS GAVRIILIDIS-PETRIN
x
GENNARO GAGLIANO
VIOLONCELLO
(NAPLES, C. 1750)
LEONHARD BAUMGARTNER
x
JEAN-BAPTISTE VUILLAUME
VIOLIN
(PARIS, 1854)
MARGARITA POCHEBUT
x
LORENZO STORIONI
(CREMONA, 1784)
BENJAMIN KRUITHOF
x
BARTOLOMEO CRISTOFORI
VIOLONCELLO
(FLORENCE, C. 1710)
SARAH JÉGOU-SAGEMAN
x
JEAN-BAPTISTE VUILLAUME
VIOLIN
(PARIS, C. 1844)
ARNE ZELLER
x
CHARLES ADOLPHE MAUCOTEL
“EX PAUL TORTELIER” VIOLONCELLO
(PARIS, C. 1850)
MARGARITA POCHEBUT
x
LORENZO STORIONI
(CREMONA, 1784)
BENJAMIN KRUITHOF
x
BARTOLOMEO CRISTOFORI
VIOLONCELLO
(FLORENCE, C. 1710)
SARAH JÉGOU-SAGEMAN
x
JEAN-BAPTISTE VUILLAUME
VIOLIN
(PARIS, C. 1844)
ARNE ZELLER
x
CHARLES ADOLPHE MAUCOTEL
“EX PAUL TORTELIER” VIOLONCELLO
(PARIS, C. 1850)
SARA FERRÁNDEZ
x
DAVID TECCHLER
VIOLA
(ROME, 1730)
IVAN KARIZNA
x
BARTOLOMEO TASSINI
“EX PAUL TORTELIER” VIOLONCELLO
(VENICE, C. 1750)
SIMON ZHU
x
ZOSIMO BERGONZI
VIOLIN
(CREMONA, C. 1760)
SERGEY KHACHATRYAN
x
LORENZO STORIONI
VIOLIN
(CREMONA c. 1800)
SARA FERRÁNDEZ
x
DAVID TECCHLER
VIOLA
(ROME, 1730)
IVAN KARIZNA
x
BARTOLOMEO TASSINI
“EX PAUL TORTELIER” VIOLONCELLO
(VENICE, C. 1750)
SIMON ZHU
x
ZOSIMO BERGONZI
VIOLIN
(CREMONA, C. 1760)
SERGEY KHACHATRYAN
x
LORENZO STORIONI
VIOLIN
(CREMONA c. 1800)
MILAN AL-ASHHAB
x
DOMENICO BUSAN
VIOLIN
(VENICE c. 1770)
GEORGY KOVALEV
x
ANTONIO MARIANI
VIOLA
(PESARO c. 1650)
MILAN AL-ASHHAB
x
DOMENICO BUSAN
VIOLIN
(VENICE c. 1770)
GEORGY KOVALEV
x
ANTONIO MARIANI
VIOLA
(PESARO c. 1650)
STRETTON SOCIETY
CONCERTS & SEASONS
The Stretton Society is dedicated to preserving and projecting musical cultural heritage into the future by bringing together the most successful artists with rising talents and presenting classical music to an inspired audience.
Members and guests are invited to engage fully in our mission, participating in every aspect of support and experiencing intimate musical performances and profound conversations with Stretton’s protégées, all within a globally unique and exclusive atmosphere. Our Stretton Society festivals and concerts are currently held across Europe, with plans for expansion into North America, Asia, and the Middle East.
Guided by the ethos of the Society, the artistic directors of these festivals – Kian Soltani, a Deutsche Grammophon artist and one of the foremost cellists of his generation; Amihai Grosz, 1st Principal Viola of the Berlin Philharmonic; and Albena Danailova and Rainer Honeck, both 1st concertmasters of the Vienna Philharmonic – are granted Carte Blanche to curate chamber music programs of the highest caliber, featuring the world’s most celebrated musicians alongside promising rising stars.
Stretton
winter
St. Moritz
Our Stretton Winter festival takes us to St. Moritz’s snow covered mountains. With his chamber music program, Kian Soltani – our artistic director and one of our most outstanding cellists – creates enchanted moments at San Gian Church, Engadin’s historical landmark from the 15th century.
KIAN SOLTANI
Artistic Director
“His cello sound has the fuzz and richness of caramel, and he plays with an easy warmth, drawing the orchestra after him like a halo around a candle flame.”
Ever since Kian Soltani won the International Paulo Cello Competition, in Helsinki, in 2013, the praise from the press has not stopped. The Times describes him as a “remarkable cellist”, and Deutsche Grammophon praises his playing as “sheer perfection”. Supported by Daniel Barenboim and Anne-Sophie Mutter, Kian studied in the Young Soloists Program at Kronberg Academy and at the International Music Academy of Liechtenstein. Nowadays, he travels the world, giving concerts with his mentor Barenboim, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonics and on the renowned stages of Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall and the Lucerne Festival. In 2022, Kian performed with the Tonhalle Zurich Orchestra, the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and at the Stretton Autumn Festivals in Vienna. In 2023 he opened the Stretton Society festival seasons in St. Moritz, played all Johann Sebastian Bach Cello Sonatas during a two-night performance at Pierre Boulez Hall, Berlin and performed at summer festivals like Grafenegg Festival and Bregenz Festival.
The Stretton Summer takes place at the Eibenhof in Bad Saarow. Alexa and Johannes von Salmuth will once again open their house, courtyard, and the beautiful garden of the Eibenhof on the Saarow peninsula to us as hosts this summer. Amihai Grosz is our artistic director.
Stretton
summer
Bad Saarow
AMIHAI GROSZ
Artistic Director
“But the spolight fell on viola player Amihai Grosz, […]. His bowing arm has near mechanical energery while his resonant tone flickers between coarse and silken, glabrous and scabrous.”
Amihai is the 1st Principal violist of the Berlin Philharmonic and one of his generation’s most sought-after soloists and chamber musicians. In 1995, he founded the Jerusalem String Quartet, which today is one of the most celebrated chamber music ensembles in the world. As a soloist, Amihai plays with the most renowned orchestras and on the stages of international concert halls and festivals, such as Concertgebouw, Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, Wigmore Hall, Philharmonie Luxembourg, Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival, Delft Chamber Music Festival, Verbier Festival or BBC Proms.
Stretton
autumn
Vienna
In Stretton Autumn we follow the music to Austria. Albena Danailova and Rainer Honeck, both 1st concertmasters of the Vienna State Opera and the Vienna Philharmonic, are our artistic directors and create a program whose roots lie deep in the history and tradition of European classical music.
ALBENA DANAILOVA
Artistic Director
“In a major symphony orchestra, the title concertmaster recognizes a significant measure of innate and achieved authority on the part of its holder and confers an even greater measure of authority over the ensemble and its interpretations. […] Bulgarian violinist Albena Danailova was named one of the concertmasters of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra, the traditionally male bastion […].”
Albena is the first female concertmaster in the history of the Vienna State Opera and Vienna Philharmonic. Before that, she was concertmaster at the Bavarian State Opera and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. As a celebrated soloist and chamber musician, Albena plays in Asia, Germany, Israel, the USA, and her home country Bulgaria. She is regularly in the recording studio for Deutschlandradio Kultur and Norddeutscher Rundfunk. Since 2011, leading the Ensemble Wien has been part of her successful career and international prizes.
RAINER HONECK
Artistic Director
“[…] above all […] concertmaster Rainer Honeck, who performs his solo parts with great modesty and yet so au point that it is a pleasure.”
Rainer is the 1st concertmaster of the Vienna State Opera and Vienna Philharmonic. He leads the chamber music ensemble Wiener Virtuosen. As a renowned soloist, he plays concerts in Europe, Asia, and the USA on famous stages like the Royal Albert Hall or the Suntory Hall. Rainer’s worldwide reputation was followed by invitations to conduct. He directed the Malmö Symphony Orchestra, the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, the Kioi Sinfonietta Tokyo, the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra, the Mariinsky Orchestra St. Petersburg, and the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra. He passes his experience and knowledge on to talented young artists in masterclasses such as Carnegie Hall.
STRETTON
Excellence Mentorship
Program
At Stretton xMP, located in Dusseldorf, Germany, the world’s most renowned soloists and orchestral musicians train outstanding talents in the profession of violin, viola, and
violoncello.
In masterclasses, one-on-one lessons, or workshops, selected Stretton xMP mentees receive artistic polish from the most celebrated artists of our time. Intending to develop the full
artistic potential of our mentees, the tuition at Stretton xMP focuses on musical expression, technical perfection, performance practice and repertoire expansion.
The Stretton xMP takes an interdisciplinary and holistic approach to prepare the next generation in classical music for the challenges of an international career. Cultural and
management experts complement our program and assist young musicians in their education and career planning.
At Stretton xMP, exceptional international talents study at different stages of their education. Through training and mentorships, the program supports and offers our mentees access to one-on-one lessons, masterclasses with world-class musicians, modern, interdisciplinary, and holistic education, and preparation for a professional career as soloists or orchestra members at the highest level. The Stretton xMP guides outstanding talents on their career paths.
Future mentees can apply to the Stretton xMP applications office. Subject to admission, they will be invited to take part in the program. Besides, mentees will be scouted through the global Stretton network active in Europe, Asia, and the US.
Darius Preuß & Michael Elias Lewin
Holders of Stretton Scholarship
Mentees
Exceptionally gifted young artists between the ages of 12 and 26 will be granted access to the Stretton xMP.
Professions
The Stretton xMP trains young talents in violin, viola, cello, and chamber music.
Curriculum
The Stretton xMP consists of a full year of one-on-one lessons, masterclasses, and workshops accompanying the ongoing musical education.
Stretton Environment
The Stretton xMP creates an environment in which Stretton mentors and the Stretton team actively support the next generation of world-class musicians in their process of
evolving into thoughtful, responsible, and independent artists.
Stretton xMP Studies
Mentees meet their mentors on a regular basis at the Stretton xMP base camp or at selected locations.
Stretton Scholarships
The Stretton xMP supports selected mentees with part-time and full-time scholarships.
Our
Partners
Main partner:
Co-partner:
A special thank you to
About
Us
Background
Stretton Violins GmbH, a company specializing in the trade of rare stringed instruments, is the strategic partner and co-initiator of the Stretton Society e.V. Founded in 2020 by Stephan Jansen, Johannes von Salmuth, and Maximilian von Schierstädt, Stretton Violins GmbH was born from their shared passion of collecting and trading fine stringed instruments. Over the past decade, the trio has consistently acquired and sold such instruments, building up their personal collections.
The establishment of Stretton Violins GmbH formalized their passion and expertise within a professional commercial framework that supports the commitment of private individuals to collecting. However, this transition also meant that instruments, once sold, often dispersed globally into an anonymous marketplace. This prompted the idea of maintaining these instruments within a closed circle of collectors. Moreover, the founders sought to cultivate enduring relationships with artists, ensuring that these instruments fulfil their purpose – to be played and provide long-term opportunities for musicians.
Thus, the Stretton Society e.V. was born; a “loose ecosystem” connecting collectors, artists, and instruments. Through the society, artists receive instruments sourced within the network, fostering a dynamic exchange within a community bound by shared appreciation of classical music, culture, and philanthropy. Stretton Violins GmbH plays a key role as the intermediary, facilitating transactions or actively engaging as a commercial partner, ensuring these extraordinary instruments continue their journey to be cherished by collectors and played by musicians for generations to come.
The shareholders of Stretton Violin GmbH today include Stephan Jansen, who brings his decades-long expertise in collecting, trading, and consulting in rare stringed instruments to the company, alongside Maximilian von Schierstädt. The third shareholder is the non-profit “Antonius Organisation for Youth and Culture in Bad Saarow”, established by the Freiherr von Salmuth family. Through this partnership, a portion of the proceeds from Stretton Violins GmbH’s instrument trade contributes to the advancement of youth projects facilitated by the Antonius Organisation.
Governance
Executive Board
Stephan Jansen
Maximilian von Schierstädt
Honorary Member
H.S.H. Prince Max von und zu Liechtenstein, Chairman of LGT