Cantiga - Corelli - Spotlight Review

First I would like to give a big thank you to www.Violin-Strings.com for allowing me to test these strings.

Corelli strings by Savarez are mostly known for bass strings in my area.  When I heard of the new Cantiga strings for violin I was very interested.  According to the manufacturers Cantiga strings use a “new multifilament core.”

On their webpage they claim that the strings produce...

• A new intense, rich, focus and clean sound with a large harmonic spectrum
• A very lively and responsive string allowing the finest nuances(secure, free and easy playing).
• A very easy response in all positions.
• Newly designed machines, the specific construction and materialof CANTIGA strings contribute to their great longevity with perfect stability of their tonal characteristics (tuning, harmonics...).

• The string settles-in very quickly; immediately making a difference while the first notes are played, and improving again in few hours..
• Perfect balance between the four strings (tone and projection). All the musicians who participated in our tests, decided to keep the full set.
• Very important: Cantiga strings fit modern and antique instruments perfectly.

The package itself is very nice and they come in a blue bag that says to be an “anti oxidation bag.”  The silk wrapping at the tail end is beautiful. The purple and blue look fantastic.

After putting the strings on they were almost complete stretched out within a couple hours!  The only other strings I have experienced this from was D’addario Zyex.  These sound nothing like the Zyex on the market today though.

Tone
The tone is very neutral with a hint of brilliance.  It is refreshing to put on a string that seems to allow my violin to speak as it is meant to.  Cantiga strings do not seem to be overly bright, or mellow.  The tension feels a bit tight (but light everything so far not overly so).  They still respond very well speaking as fast as many metal strings.

Complexity
Cantiga strings are surprisingly rich.  They are no where near the complexity of gut strings but do not disappoint either.  I would put these somewhere inbetween Dominant and Evah Pirazzi.  Expect Cantiga strings to have a round sound perfect for orchestra or chamber groups.  

Projection
These strings, like everything else is leaning a bit over to the loud side, but just enough to help the instrument speak and not cranking it to 11.  Like the tone of these strings I felt that my violin is speaking how it is built to.  

Warm (Tone)

Neutral (Complexity)

Loud (Projection)

Conclusion
These strings are very pleasant to use.  I bought my violin because I loved to tone it had.  It came with Dominants installed and it felt very neutral.  Think of Cantiga strings as neutral+.  The tone, complexity, and projection are all just a hair higher giving a brilliant feeling without loosing any warmth.

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Once again I would like to give a big thank you to www.Violin-Strings.com for allowing me to test these strings.