​Jerzy Maślanka cello, 2004

Jerzy Maślanka Cello, 2004. Beautiful condition, with a powerful sound and huge amount of playability. With a fascinating history from one living owner. See below for the full story of this wonderful cello.

the front

the back

The ribs and profile

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About the cello

This cello, made by Jerzy Maslanka, plays very evenly through the registers and speaks quickly and easily. The sound projects right to the back of a large hall. It is in beautiful condition for a twenty year old cello. It has, until now, been owned by David Burrowes

David first met Maslanka in 1994 when he was working as a luthier for Malcolm Tysoe Violins in Farnborough, Kent. At the time, David was playing on a cello made by Lorenzo Ventapane, and in 1998 David commissioned Jerzy to make two copies of this cello, one for his own use, and one for an outstanding pupil he was teaching.

With this knowledge of Maslanka’s work, David commissioned him to make another cello in 2004, which is the cello we have for sale. This time, David gave Maslanka free rein to choose the model. He decided on a model which is slightly broader in the lower half to give a more resonant bass register, whilst keeping the sweetness in the higher registers.

From 2004-2020, David used this cello to play in most performances of the London production of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, where David was Principal Cello. David also used it when touring with various London orchestras outside the UK during this period. We have recordings of the cello available to listen to at the shop, including a recording of Walton’s Passacaglia for solo cello from a live concert, and some CDs of a sextet recording by the Cirrus Sextet, in which the quartet all played on instruments made by Maslanka. You will also be able to listen to some short recordings of the cello on our Instagram.

Jerzy Maslanka has now returned to work in his native Poland, where his newly made cellos are much in demand.