Michelin-Starred Chef Creates Stradivarius-Inspired Menu For Manchester Camerata

Classical music, fine dining, arts and business leaders and our 303 year-old, 1709 Stradivarius violin combined perfectly on Wednesday night at The Midland’s award-winning restaurant, The French, for a special event hosted by Manchester Camerata and supported by John Eckersley of Castlefield Investments.

Michelin-starred Simon Rogan created a sumptuous 6 course menu based on the world-famous 303 year-old Stradivarius violin, currently on permanent loan to Manchester Camerata from Jonathan Moulds. Giovanni Guzzo, Camerata’s charismatic leader, had provided added inspiration earlier in the year by playing the Stradivarius to Simon in the kitchens of The Midland.  Courses included ‘A plate of gold’, a course of everything yellow or gold to represent the violin’s golden period and ‘Blackcurrant Bombe ’, to celebrate its safe passage through the 2^nd World War when it survived the Dresden bombings.

Manchester Camerata take inspiration from the Florentine Camerata – a group of 16th century musicians, poets, intellectuals, business leaders, astrologers and philosophers who met to guide, support and engage with the arts. So it was entirely fitting that on Wednesday evening we brought together 50 leaders from the worlds of arts and business to enter into a very Mancunian and Florentine spirit of conversation.

Over the course of the evening we discussed ways of supporting and engaging with the Camerata’s exciting and important work; from ambitious and inspiring participation work, to exceptional artists and music that connects everyone every time. All perfectly illustrated by Giovanni Guzzo’s dazzling performances on the famous violin throughout the evening, including an impromptu late-night appearance in the kitchens just for the staff!

The event was featured by Dianne Bourne in The Diary pages of the Manchester Evening News. Read the article here.