"Mara" is considered a magical name in the music world - behind it hides the currently most valuable violoncello, which was created over 300 years ago in Cremona by Antonio Stradivari. The instrument owes its name to its first owner, Giovanni Mara. However, he is said not to have treated it with particular care and was even described by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as a "piss-poor player" after attending a concert in 1781. Even after Mara's death, the cello experienced quite a bit and performed not only in concert halls but also in cathedrals and royal castles.
In63, the cello almost lost its life. In his book "Mara" Wondratschek tells the adventurous journey of the instrument and lets you participate in some exciting episodes.
Christian Poltéra was born in Zurich in 1977 and studied with Heinrich Schiff in Salzburg and Vienna, among others. Poltéra works as a soloist with leading orchestras. In addition to his solo performances, he plays highly acclaimed chamber music concerts at major festivals. In 2004 he was awarded the Borletti-Buitoni Award. Since 2013 Christian Poltéra has been artistic director of the Chamber Music Days at the Bergkirche Büsingen.
Born in 1970, pianist Oliver Triendl has won several national and international competitions. Some 100 CD recordings attest to his commitment as an advocate for seldom-performed classical and romantic repertoire as well as his dedication to contemporary works. In 2006 he founded the international chamber music festival "Classix Kempten" in Kempten/Allgäu.
German writer Wolf Wondratschek was born in 1942. He studied literature, philosophy and sociology at the universities of Heidelberg, Göttingen and Frankfurt am Main. In 1968 he published his first book entitled "Früher begann der Tag mit einer Schußwunde".
Text source and further information about this event: http://www.frankfurter-buergerstiftung.de/node/2452
