Anne-Sophie Mutter: Lord Dunn-Raven Stradivarius, Thomastik string lane
Reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
Anne-Sophie Mutter is one of the most-cited modern classical soloists. She plays the 1710 Lord Dunn-Raven Stradivarius (acquired 1992) on a string lane analyzed via her Korngold CD booklet imagery as either Thomastik Dominant or Infeld Blue (the colored peg-end is the giveaway). She also owns the 1703 Emiliani Stradivarius. Mutter's career spans Karajan-era Berliner Philharmoniker collaborations through John Williams's Across the Stars project (2019).
At a glance
Role
Active
Based
Affiliations
- Anne-Sophie Mutter, soloist career (1976–present)
- Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation (founder, supports young string players)
- Berliner Philharmoniker (frequent collaborator, since Karajan years)
Notable credits
- Multiple Grammy Awards (4 total, classical)
- Brahms Violin Concerto, multiple recordings
- Beethoven Violin Concerto with Karajan / Berliner Philharmoniker (1980)
- John Williams: Across the Stars (2019, soundtrack and recital album)
- Korngold Violin Concerto (multiple recordings)
- Mozart Violin Sonatas, complete cycle
Who Anne-Sophie Mutter is
Anne-Sophie Mutter, born June 29, 1963 in Rheinfelden, Germany, is one of the most-cited modern classical violinists. Discovered by Herbert von Karajan as a teenager, she made her debut recording with the Berliner Philharmoniker at age 17 — Beethoven's Violin Concerto, 1980, the recording that established her as a generation-defining soloist.
Her career arc spans the Karajan-era German classical tradition through contemporary collaboration with John Williams on the 2019 Across the Stars project (recital album based on Williams's film scores). Multiple Grammy Awards, the Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation supporting young string players, and continuous touring on the 1710 Lord Dunn-Raven Stradivarius.
What she plays
Mutter's documented setup
On the Lord Dunn-Raven Stradivarius
The 1710 Lord Dunn-Raven Stradivarius is the violin Mutter has played since 1992. Built during Stradivari's Golden Period (1700-1720), it's contemporary with Perlman's 1714 Soil Stradivarius and the broader cohort of canonical concerto-era Strads. The instrument's tone profile leans warm and projecting; Mutter's recorded sound on the Beethoven concertos, the Brahms concerto, and the Korngold concerto all emerge from this specific instrument.
She also owns the 1703 Emiliani, which she performs on occasionally. Both are Golden Period Stradivari, both have similar tonal character; the Lord Dunn-Raven is the touring primary, the Emiliani is the secondary.
String spec, sourced via imagery
Mutter's specific string brand has not surfaced in primary-source interviews CYS has located. The verified-use evidence is photographic: in the booklet of her Korngold violin concerto CD and on her website, the strings visible at the peg end show coloring consistent with Thomastik Dominant (often violet-purple peg ends) or Thomastik Infeld Blue (blue peg ends). Both are Thomastik synthetic-core products, both are working-pro canon for soloist concerto playing.
Per CYS's sourcing tier convention, this is "sourced-use" rather than "endorsed" or "verified-use" — the photographic evidence is reliable, but a direct interview citation isn't on file. If your tradition is Mutter's repertoire (Beethoven, Brahms, Korngold concertos) and you want her tonal lane, Thomastik Dominant is the safer default, with Infeld Blue as the warmer-leaning alternative.
Related
Frequently asked questions
What strings does Anne-Sophie Mutter use?
Per analysis of imagery in her latest Korngold CD booklet and on her website (sourced from violinist.com discussion), the string appears to be either Thomastik Dominant or Thomastik Infeld Blue. The colored peg-end is the visual differentiator. Both strings are synthetic-core Thomastik products — the soloist working canon since the 1970s. Specific year-by-year string choices aren't pinned in primary-source interviews, but the visible imagery anchors the lane to Thomastik.
Sourcing tier: sourced-use (analysis of CD imagery and website photos). Direct interview citation not on file.
What's the difference between Dominant and Infeld Blue?
Both are Thomastik synthetic-core. Dominant launched in 1970, the canonical synthetic-core that replaced gut as the soloist standard. Infeld Blue (and the related Infeld Red) launched later, designed as a slightly warmer alternative to Dominant for players who wanted more low-mid body. Pick Dominant for classic clean tone with broad dynamic range; pick Infeld Blue for slightly warmer, fuller orchestral concerto tone. Both share the synthetic core and are frequently used by working soloists.
What violins does Mutter own and play?
Two Stradivarius violins. The 1703 Emiliani Stradivarius, and the 1710 Lord Dunn-Raven Stradivarius (acquired 1992, primary touring instrument). Mutter performs primarily on the Lord Dunn-Raven; the Emiliani is the spare. Both are Golden Period Stradivari, the same era as Perlman's 1714 Soil Stradivarius.
What's Mutter's career arc?
Discovered by Herbert von Karajan as a teenager, performed with the Berliner Philharmoniker in her late teens, recorded the canonical Beethoven Violin Concerto with Karajan in 1980 at age 17. Career spans the Karajan years through contemporary collaboration with John Williams (Across the Stars, 2019). Established the Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation to support young string players. Current touring continues with the Lord Dunn-Raven Stradivarius.
Where is she based?
Munich, Germany. Mutter's career is German-based both geographically and culturally — the German classical tradition (Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, Bach) is the canonical core of her recorded repertoire. Her residence and the Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation operate from Munich.
Has Mutter endorsed any string brand?
Specific paid endorsement is not pinned in primary-source material. The visible CD imagery indicates Thomastik strings (Dominant or Infeld Blue specifically), and Thomastik's broader artist roster has historically included most major modern soloists, but a documented endorsement contract isn't on the public record. The string lane is sourced via imagery, not via interview citation. CYS frames this as 'sourced-use' rather than 'endorsed.'
Sources and methodology
Every gear claim on this page traces back to a primary source. Endorsement labels follow the CYS taxonomy: endorsed (paid relationship), verified-use (cited from interview / Rig Rundown / live footage), genre-fit (editorial analysis, no endorsement implied), unconfirmed (we don't guess).