The Batta-Piatigorsky Stradivarius is a cello made in Cremona, Italy in 1714 by Antonio Stradivari.
It had also been played by the prominent French virtuoso cellist, Adrien-François Servais.
Hill then sold it to collector Baron Johann Knoop, from whom the renowned Ukrainian-American virtuoso cellist, Gregor Piatigorsky, acquired it.
While all other instruments I had played prior to the Batta differed one from the other in character and range, I knew their qualities, shortcomings, or their capriciousness enough to exploit their good capabilities to full advantage.
Bottomless in its resources, it spurred me on to try to reach its depths, and I have never worked harder or desired anything more fervently than to draw out of this superior instrument all it has to give.