A broken heart for a broken Stradivarius
My heart breaks for David Garrett.
The twenty-six–year-old violin virtuoso, one of Britain’s foremost young concert performers, has been hailed the “David Beckham of classical music” by the British press. But now the ordinarily august Independent is calling him “Mr. Bean” and “the lad with the broken Strad.”
Earlier this week, it was reported that Mr. Garrett fell down a flight of stairs and landed on his violin case, which held a priceless masterpiece created by Antonio Stradivari in 1710, during the famous craftsman’s “golden period” – one of fewer than one hundred similar such instruments left in the world. The violinist wasn’t badly hurt, but his instrument, called the “San Lorenzo” Stradivarius, was not so lucky; upon opening the case, he found the violin in pieces, cracked side to side.
There are still fine craftsmen who can repair it (with eight months and £60,000, anyway), so all is not lost – but some question whether the instrument will ever sound the same.
This incident highlights just how lucky we are to look forward to James Ehnes’ May 14 concert. Mr. Ehnes, another young virtuoso, will play his priceless 1715 “Ex Marsick” Stradivarius. It is a rare opportunity to hear such a gifted performer on such a rare instrument – an opportunity that’s getting rarer all the time, as David Garrett’s unfortunate experience illustrates.
Julianne says:
I thought it was a guarneri. Ah, whatever violin it was, I am heartbroken that any violin could come to that sort of fate. Please fix the poor thing! even if it doesn’t sound the same! A broken person deserves to be fixed, and so does the violin.
Julia Smith says:
What a sad thing. I can’t imagine being entrusted with a Strat. Deciding to get a dog was stressful enough - I don’t think I could handle THAT responsibility!