D.C. At the time, Katz was in the renowned Cleveland Quartet and had been told that he could use the instrument indefinitely. But he decided to give it back. He missed his own cello. Since '72, Katz, Rice professor of cello and chamber music, has owned a very special instrument.
All musical instruments have their own personality and character.
Katz's has a 331-year history. When his cello was made, Katz says cellos were not generally used as solo or virtuosic instruments. It had only a supporting role and played only the bass notes. But in the early 18th century, Antonio Stradivari perfected the size and shape of the modern cello, making it smaller than cellos of that time and smaller than the original size of Katz's Guarnerius. This made faster, more brilliant playing possible, and with this new found virtuosity the instrument began to take on a more featured role.