Guarneri.......Wow!

[Pierow]

Interesting read and a wonderful video showing a violinist playing what is regarded by many as the best violin in the world. It is one of the last violins Bartolomeo Giuseppe Guarneri made. Last night my sister mentioned her teacher, who used to play a Guarneri is now playing a different instrument which prompted my search this morning.

Even in video form the average person can pick up what an amazing sounding violin this is. Anyway, most folks never get a chance to get close to an instrument like this let alone hear it or play it. Here you can see and hear the Vieuxtemps Guarneri being played by Joshua Bell:

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jul/05/vieuxtemps-guarneri-violin-sale

 

[Rick Courtright]

Even in video form the average person can pick up what an amazing sounding violin this is.

Hi,

That's exactly the first thought that went thru my mind, Pierow: "This instrument sounds so good on the computer, what's it like in real life?"

Thanks for a great Monday morning wake up story! BTW, do you know if it was ever sold? Since the date of the article was 2010, I'd assume so...

Rick C

 

[tinman]

".............The violin has been meticulously maintained and is considered to be in excellent condition, without cracks and never having required patching. The initial craftsmanship and its resulting sound as well as the well documented provenance and careful maintenance has led it to a steady increase in price over the years: it has often been viewed as an investment leaving some to criticize the overall trend of musical instruments gathering dust in a museum rather than being played as intended. In 2012, J&A Beares Ltd sold the instrument, in collaboration with Paolo Alberghini and Julie Reed Yeboah, for an undisclosed sum to an unnamed client. The undisclosed sum was reported to exceed that of the earlier world record price for the "Lady Blunt" violin. The purchaser subsequently provided lifetime use of the instrument to American violinist Anne Akiko Meyers for performance. In a December 3rd, 2013 article The Economist reported that the purchase price of the "Vieuxtemps" violin exceeded $16m.........."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vieuxtemps_Guarneri

 

[Pierow]

I don't know if it was sold or for what amount but my sister probably does. I'll ask her this weekend and circle back if I have anything.

I do know a very desirable Stradivarius recently sold for 4.5 million. As was stated in the article actual players cannot afford these prized instruments anymore so they get sold to collectors or hedge funds. Really sad when you think of it as violins need to be played to attain and maintain their sound. Violin players of note usually obtain their instruments through investors.

Pierow

 

[tinman]

.............read the article...........it was sold.........here's another............

http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2013/12/expensive-violins

 

[Rick Courtright]

.............read the article...........it was sold.........here's another............

Hi,

Got it. Thank you!

Rick C

 

[stefko]

I seem to recall that a Guarneri violin was featured in a couple episodes of one of my favorite TV series, "Northern Exposure".

No instrument can sear the soul (mine at least) like a violin.

A line I heard on local talk radio the other day: "The difference between a violin and a fiddle is that you don't care if someone spills a beer on your fiddle."

Steve