Vincenzo Cavani (b. 1889 – d. 1973) spent much of his life in Spilamberto, Italy, a community in the province of Modena. As the son and pupil of master luthier Giovanni Cavani, Vincenzo made his first violin at age 11, and first cello at age 13. He worked in the workshop of of renowned luthier, Leandro Bisiach, won medals at expositions and ultimately became one of the foremost Italian makers of the 20th century. This viola, made in 1941 in Spilamberto, is a striking example of Cavani’s work. It has a medium-grain spruce belly and hardwood 2-piece back, and is coated with Cavani’s signature deep red-over-golden varnish. At an impressive 16 ¾”, this viola’s body length gives it a uniquely rich and versatile sound that allows it to fill a concert hall with power and projection, while just as easily sing the softest, sweetest melody. While the body length is long, the upper bout is proportionally narrow which makes the viola easy to play and move around on quick passages.   The string length is a reasonable 14 3/4″ which makes it comfortable even for people of a smaller stature. The low end of this instrument boasts depth and resonance, while the upper end blossoms in its brilliance and clarity. This viola would be an excellent choice for a professional musician, soloists and orchestra musicians alike.