A symphony of strings and cylinders

The Ferrari 250 LM has one of the most melodious exhaust notes of all time, but as it burbles tunefully at Maranello today, its V12 engine is accompanied by more music – that of Emanuel Graf and his Stradivarius cello.

Graf is one of the most accomplished cellists of his generation. Yet, beyond his musical virtuosity, Graf’s cello case, in Rosso Corsa, hints at another passion: a lifelong love for the Prancing Horse.

“I was always fascinated by Ferrari,” he smiles. “My hero was Michael Schumacher and the sound of the Ferrari V10 from the late 1990s is unforgettable, like a piece of music. The way it builds to peak revs so effortlessly reminds me of an opera singer relaxing to hit the high notes – the power comes from deep within the body, not the throat.”

Watch – and listen to – Emanuel Graf's virtuoso performance at Maranello

Inspired by Schumacher, Graf frequently drove at his local go-kart track and even dreamt of a motorsport career. “In the end, music won out, but my love for Ferrari never faded,” he explains.

Graf has worked with famous conductors like Mariss Jansons and Gianandrea Noseda and has played in prestigious venues around the world, and for the last decade, he has served as principal cellist at the Bavarian State Orchestra, relishing live performance.

“When you play for an audience, you feel them,” he elaborates. “Sometimes, in an intense moment, 2,000 people hold their breath at the same time. There’s this interaction, this energy. To share music in that way and connect with people is truly special.”

Graf has always nurtured a passion for Ferrari – as his Rosso Corsa cello case attests

In 2022, Graf was indefinitely loaned the ‘L’Evêque de La Rochelle’, a Stradivarius made by Antonio Stradivari in 1690. Given the instrument’s rich provenance, the parallels with the most storied Ferrari cars are clear. Graf cites the Ferrari 250 series as particularly inspirational. “As a cellist, you have to be in love with this car,” he says, referring to how the curvaceous silhouette of the 250 Testa Rossa echoes the curves of a cello’s body.

The 250 GTO, meanwhile, impresses him with its perfect fusion of form and function. “It isn’t just about making a car look beautiful. A 250 GTO looks how it does because it works,” he enthuses. “That’s the same philosophy behind the great Italian string instruments. A Stradivarius is beautiful, but it is shaped that way because it produces the best sound.”

At Maranello, Graf had his first encounter with the 250 LM. As the engine fires, it settles into a symphony of 12 cylinders, with hungry induction rasps following each blip of the throttle. Soon, he is improvising over the rich, warm tones with his Stradivarius, the organic and the mechanical melding together.

Graf played for Piero Ferrari at Maranello – and got up close to not one but two Ferrari 250 LMs

“Music and engines share something fundamental: harmony,” he says. “A well-built engine functions like a perfect piece of music. Every component works together. And when you adjust the throttle, that’s like musical modulation. Ferrari engines, especially V12s, have a complexity, an overtone structure like a Stradivarius. You hear it and you feel it in your body, too.”

Parallels between cars and music run deeper than sound, believes Graf; they permeate the entire driving experience. “There’s a fascinating connection between music and driving. Both require sensitivity, precision and an understanding of rhythm. When you drive a Ferrari on a twisty road, you listen to the engine note more than you look at the rev counter. You hear when to shift.”

Graf has yet to own a Ferrari but hopes to one day acquire his dream car. At Maranello, the Purosangue catches his eye. The most versatile Ferrari model combines a tuneful naturally aspirated engine and dextrous all-wheel-drive with four seats and generous luggage space – essential for Graf’s two young sons, who have inherited his passion for the Prancing Horse, and for the precious Stradivarius cello, safely tucked inside its Rosso Corsa case.