1. Paganini was very superstitious
The personality of the great violinist was shrouded in mystery, which was facilitated by an amazing "demonic" appearance and implausible long fingers. There were persistent rumors about his superstitiousness, which gave rise to the assumption of his atheism or even that Paganini made a deal with the devil, buying his talent from him, and the church even tried to ban his concerts. The Bishop of Nice, where Paganini died, even refused a funeral mass, but the pope intervened. Whatever it was, but
The violinist was very afraid of the devil. At the same time, he still looked into the gambling house with a friend, where he regularly lost, like his father. And only once, when Paganini went into an institution with a few lire, and left with a considerable fortune in his pocket, he got scared, whispering: “It's him, the devil!” “Maybe God helped you win today!” - tried to reassure his friend, but the musician objected: "It is unlikely that God would make a person get a lot of unearned money ...". Since then, Paganini has never visited the gambling house.
2. Notable musicians were ready to write a will, having listened to Paganini
The mysterious halo around his name Paganini supported himself. He often talked about the extraordinary secrets of his skill, which he would only reveal after the end of his career. In fact, Paganini easily surprised the inexperienced spectator not only with his talent, but also with his extraordinary technique and impeccable purity of performance. In his time, the rich possibilities of the violin had not yet been discovered; Paganini himself found new effects. When the musician performed a composition of just two strings in front of the audience, one admirer enthusiastically said: “You are an intolerable person, you leave nothing to others! Who can surpass you? Is it the one who plays on one string, but this is impossible! A few weeks later, Paganini played a sonata on one string at concerts. Other violinists, having listened to the music of the Italian talent, joked that they could now write a will.
3. Paganini had a precious collection of violins
From childhood, the little violin was his favorite toy, although his father was too strict with his son, forcing him to study to the point of exhaustion ... Much later, such magnificent instruments as Stradivari, Amati, Guarneri violins will appear in the Paganini collection. The latter was Paganini's favorite violin, he bequeathed it to hometown Genoa - did not want any other musician to play it. Entering the stage, Paganini was transformed, as if becoming a different person and found himself in complete mental fusion with the violin. The instrument played by the great musician, after his death, received the name "Paganini's Widow".
4. Paganini was fantastically distracted
It seemed that he did not care at all about those aspects of his own life that were not related to music. He confused the year of his birth, wrote that he was the second son in the family, although there were two more brothers in the family. The maestro was rather indifferent to such mistakes, declaring that his memory "is not in the head, but in the hands when they hold the violin."
5. Paganini also spoke to monarchs
European rulers invited him for a personal performance and paid large fees. Once Paganini even sang the Masonic anthem in the Grand Lodge of Italy. That's just because of the love of gambling, Paganini was often left without money for food. Nevertheless, by old age he did accumulate a small fortune - perhaps not last role rejection played here gambling. Yes, and Paganini himself tried not to sell too cheap: when English king offered the violinist half the required fee for the performance, Paganini in response offered not to spend money and attend his concert in the theater for a smaller amount. And when the driver tried to charge the violinist four times the usual price (“You also charge a lot for your concerts, but you play only one string!”), Paganini replied: “Well, I will pay the appointed amount if you take me to places on one wheel.
Who needs an old grand piano today? It is impossible to play on it. As the years go by
the sound is lost, fading away. A piano with a "biography" might be of interest
except perhaps as a piece of furniture or an exhibit of some historical museum.
But the violins… These instruments, the work of great masters, do not lose their
nobility, depth, brilliance, softness and power of sound. And as life stories themselves
masters, the fates of great instruments are sometimes full of drama. like others
precious works of art, antique violins are stolen and forged, in
they fall in love and hate them ... Our article is about this.
Losing and winning signor
Paganini
In the autumn of 1800, an awkward, thin young man entered the tavern in Livorno.
a man with a violin case in his hands. At one of the tables they were playing cards.
The young man joined the game. He was unlucky: the money quickly melted away, and
soon the young man was left penniless. Then he staked the violin
explaining that it is quite expensive. The gamblers agreed, and the violin was immediately
lost. The young man asked to return it at least for a day, referring to
evening concert, but they only laughed at him:
“You yourself put it on the line!
We didn't force you!" Then an elderly Frenchman approached the unlucky player
from the next table. “I am a simple merchant from Paris,” he said, “but I love
music and visited your concerts. You are Signor Niccolo Paganini. So here it is
your violin is not the best. Don't feel sorry for her. I'll give you another one for tonight. Her
did no one famous master Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu, but maybe
you'll like its sound."
The sound of this violin was the seventeen-year-old Paganini
fascinated. The Parisian merchant was also shocked by his game, whose name she did not keep
story. After the concert, he refused to take the violin back, giving it to
young genius. “Not for me, a modest amateur, to play it,” he said.
This
Guarneri's violin accompanied Paganini throughout his life. Only once before
concert in Paris, she "fell ill", and Paganini took her to the violin maker
William (we will return to him later). Willom managed to "cure" the violin, and
touched, Paganini embraced him and handed him the precious box. "I had two
such caskets,” he explained. - I gave one to the doctor who healed my body,
the second I give to you who healed the soul.
Until the very death of Paganini,
parted with this Guarneri violin. He bequeathed it to the museum of his native city of Genoa.
There she can be seen now under the name "The Widow of Paganini." Only if in Genoa
arrives outstanding violinist, he is allowed to play on it.
Mysterious Prisoner
Violin Stradivarius
from the collection of the Royal Palace of Madrid
So who is he, the same master Giuseppe Guarneri, nicknamed del Gesu and
who created the violin that made Paganini famous? Why did the Parisian merchant call him
"no one knows"?
Very little is known about Giuseppe Guarneri,
except that the year of birth is 1698. But it is clear that Antonio himself envied him
Stradivari. He said that his own violins, although superior
Guarneri instruments with softness and brilliance of sound, but inferior to them in the power of sound.
True, Stradivari knew that Guarneri was considered a drunkard and a brawler, which means that
he thought he would not see serious customers. In addition, Stradivarius was very
rich. There was even a saying in Cremona: "rich as Stradivarius." But still
envy did not leave him until the end of his days.
However, Guarneri was arrested and
imprisoned (for what kind of offense - no one knows). From the dungeon he
no longer came out, and died there in 1744. But even in prison, the master continued to create
violins - materials and tools for work were brought to him by the jailer, then
who sold the creations of Guarneri for next to nothing. Well-deserved fame came to del Ges
only after death...
The order "take away and
share"
Edgar Bundy.
"Antonio Stradivari". 1893
The fate of the instruments of Antonio Stradivari himself cannot be called cloudless either.
There are not so few left in the world of his instruments, about a thousand. And many of them
opened, trying to copy, but to no avail. No one has been able to get into
secrets of divine sound. There was a legend that the soul lives in these violins
Stradivari...
In Soviet times, in Russia, the Bolsheviks simply ordered
confiscate all Stradivari instruments, whoever has them, and
"nationalize" them. Familiar song, isn't it? The famous "take away and
to share" Comrade Sharikov. True, as you know, the future Sharikov played on
balalaika in taverns and hardly suspected the existence of Stradivarius, but the essence
it doesn't change things.
So, in May 1920, an employee of the Cheka, a certain Prokofiev (not
confused with the composer!), got off the train to the station square in Odessa. IN
in the pocket of his tunic lay a noteworthy document, signed by one of
Bolshevik leaders (we will not name names so that these figures do not have
glory of Herostratus). The text was as follows: “Give the giver of this comrade Prokofiev
a separate cool car for a trip to Odessa and back.
Why did you come to
Odessa privileged passenger? Yes, with the same notorious order -
find and confiscate all Stradivarius violins preserved in Odessa. running
forward, it can be said that he and similar "confiscators" achieved considerable
success in this field. Some of the instruments died or disappeared without a trace in that
era. It is fortunate that, thanks to the efforts of enthusiasts, many great violins have been
save. Some tools formed the basis State collection
unique musical instruments. Here is a 1628 violin by Antonio and
Girolamo Amati, and the cello of the teacher Stradivari - Nicolo Amati… In the collection and
viola of the Stradivari himself, worthy of being ranked among the best tools peace.
He belonged well-known philanthropist Zhivago and was discovered in his house at the Nikitsky
gate in Moscow. It is clear that the heirs of the patron to demand the return of their
legal ownership hardly makes sense. It's good that the alt survived at all.
There is also a violin Stradivari "Yusupov". She was brought from Italy by the prince
Yusupov. She was found by chance in the hiding place of the Yusupov Palace.
Fakes and
abductions
In 1767, Ivan Andreevich Batov was born into the family of serfs Count Sheremetev,
who was destined to become one of the famous violin makers, "Russian
Stradivari, as he was called. He studied in Moscow, with master Vladimirov, and
soon presented Sheremetev with a cello of his work, "beautiful in body and soul."
The touched count gave Batov his freedom. He opened a workshop and until the end of his life
created violins that used incredible success both in Russia and abroad.
Well, how can scammers resist the temptation! They bought cheap Saxon violins
they put the Batov brand on them and sold them - of course, at a different price.
A
here is the story of one of the amazing violins - it was believed that it was made by an Italian
a master named Duiffoprugar. It is the world's first tool maker,
now called violins. IN late XIX centuries of authentic Gaspard instruments
Only five Duiffoprugara were known, among them a 1510 violin donated
Francis I. Is it necessary to mention their immeasurable value ... And here is the sensation:
another fiddle found! Pretty tool with a scroll, decorated
carved human head, and in gold letters on the sides: "I once lived in
forests, alive I was silent, but dead I sing tenderly. Decorated the bottom deck
painting
oil... For a long time researchers did not doubt the authorship
this violin. However, it turned out that this was just a great fake, and created
her none other than... french master William. Yes, yes, the same William,
healed Paganini's violin! Truly, the ways of the creators are inscrutable...
But how would
Whatever it was, William is a master. Ordinary crooks don't bother with sound and varnish
will, if only to sell them - quickly and more expensively. Takova tragic fate
Stradivarius violin, which belonged to Alexander I and after his death was placed in
Hermitage Museum. She was kidnapped from there, and when the instrument was found in Germany, it turned out that
thieves washed off the unique “coral” varnish in order to disguise ... Now this violin
returned to Russia, but only as Museum exhibit. The magic sound is lost
forever.
Lacquer Mystery
Stradivarius
What kind of varnish was washed off the violin of the great master by ignorant kidnappers? IN
what is the secret of lacquer Stradivari and other old Italian masters? It is only known
that this varnish (or rather, several of its types, each master has his own) was different
special properties that no one has yet been able to replicate. Many specialists
consider the disappearance of balsam pine to be the cause of the decline of violin art and
"dragon's blood" - a transparent dark red resin, soluble in ethereal
oils. It is alleged that the old Italians mined varnishes from both sandalwood and
saffron.
In addition to varnish, the wood itself was of course also an important component.
The French scientist Jacques Savard proved that the speed of sound in
spruce wood exceeds that in the air by 15 times. On the bottom deck they took
usually maple. Ebony went to the neck ... But in two centuries they almost completely disappeared
musical forests. The same William, in search of the right tree, was forced
drive around the markets and buy up old tables and benches. In a word, no matter how much
“dissected” ancient violins, no matter how many of their secrets and secrets they guessed,
to surpass and even just copy their wonderful sound has not yet succeeded
whom. And is it possible to repeat the magic?
http://www.liveinternet.ru/users/2496320/post290072032/
Some saw him as a swindler, others as a Genius. The whole life of the musician was shrouded in secrets and omissions, and only now some details of his biography began to be revealed. But everyone who spoke about the violinist agreed that this man was a real Master. From our article you will find out which master made the Paganini violin, which he bequeathed to Genoa, and why great violinist gave this instrument to his native city!
"A worthy son of a glorious city"
The name Niccolo Paganini is very closely connected with. Firstly, the maestro was born in Genoa. In October 1782, on the 27th, in a poor Genoese quarter called the Black Cat, a third child was born in the family of Antonio and Teresa. The boy who was destined to glorify Genoa for centuries.
Despite the fact that Niccolo's father was an ordinary salesman, he was fond of music. Disappointed that the eldest son Carlo did not show any musical ability father drew attention to younger son, and literally forced the boy to play the violin all day. He dreamed that one day his son would become a famous musician. and will earn a lot of money. And young Niccolo dreamed of at least one day to take a break from musical passages ...
First solo concert happened when the young violinist was only 11 years old. The boy studied for several years with Giacomo Costa, who was Niccolò's first mentor and taught him violin making. young genius surprised the townspeople, they started talking about a talented boy.
The next teacher was Gasparo Ghiretti, who instilled the composing technique and taught the boy to compose, focusing not on the instrument, but only on the inner ear.
At the age of 16, Niccolo manages to escape from his father's care and go to Pisa, where they started talking about his performances. None of the musicians could repeat those passages that Niccolo masterfully mastered. He was able to extract sounds from the violin, similar to the singing of birds., the sounds of the wind and even human voice. Concerts went one after another, the cities were replaced by a succession:, Livorno ...
But real success also came to the violinist again in Genoa. It happened in 1827, at the Falcone Theatre, where the musician's concert took place on November 9th. The listeners were amazed by the magic that the great maestro extracted from the violin.
Among the listeners was the King of Piedmont and Carl Felix. The august monarch did not skimp on applause, and after the concert he showed the musician his special disposition. This incident hit the pages of the Gazetta di Genova, and soon the name of Paganini was known throughout Italy.
Throughout his life, the musician was credited with many novels, including with the most august persons. History has preserved only the names of only two women with whom Niccolo had quite long romances.
One of the novels happened to Angelina Kavanna, True, he was overshadowed by the fact that Angelina wrote to the authorities, as if the musician had seduced her and kidnapped her.
Paganini even had to spend several days in prison. After posting bail and paying a large amount to Angelina, the case was closed.
The second novel is associated with the name of Antonia Bianca, who gave birth to the musician's only son, Achilles.
Due to numerous trips, constant music making Paganini did not take care of his own health at all. He began to be disturbed by coughing and periodic pains. No ointment, no rubbing, no trip to French seaside resorts the masters could not heal.
The musician spent the last six months of his life in Nice.. Renting a house on the coast, he lived last days almost alone, not wanting to see anyone and suffering from the inability to make music, as before.
Interesting facts about Paganini:
- Many contemporaries called Paganini "the violinist of the devil". Many refused to believe that the musician was capable of extracting such beautiful sounds from the violin, and only after listening to his performance, they admitted that this man was in fact a virtuoso in his field.
- Paganini was impossibly distracted. He didn’t even remember the date of his birth, and in the documents he indicated everywhere due to a misunderstanding different dates- sometimes a couple of years later, sometimes a year earlier. And he was the third child in the family, and not the second, as he himself said.
- It is unknown if Niccolò attended school. In his letters, written by him already in adulthood, there are very frequent and gross spelling errors.
Find out on the pages of our website, as well as how to visit the most famous landmark in Italy!
The history of the famous instrument
Who made the violin that Paganini bequeathed as a gift to Genoa? Master Paganini had huge collection violins, which were created by real masters of their era - Guarneri, Stradivari, Amati. But there was one that was my favourite. Her name is "il Cannone" ("Cannon"). Paganini gave this name to the instrument because of the events taking place in Italy in the first half of the 19th century.
Then a national liberation movement unfolded throughout the country, and the frantic violin of Paganini only inspired the fighters for freedom. Paganini's concerts have been banned more than once but the violin continued to sound ...
So which of all the masters made the violin that Paganini presented to Genoa, whose work the maestro bequeathed to his native city?
The master who made the violin that Paganini bequeathed to Genoa is Bartolomeo Giuseppe Guarneri, grandson of Andrea Guarneri. It was made, according to the archives, in 1743 (according to other sources - in 1742). It was presented to seventeen-year-old Niccolo by a Parisian merchant whose name has not been preserved in history.
The musician was amazed by the power of the instrument: he withstood the powerful pressure of the bow, while the sound remained smooth and not distorted. That is why the violin has become a favorite concert instrument Paganini.
The musician treated her like a living being. Once the violin lost its voice, and the musician carried it to the violin maker Vil'om. There was a fame about this master that he could breathe a second life into any instrument.
Paganini turned to the master with hope. A week later, arriving at Vilhom's house, Paganini, with anxiety and pain, touched the strings with his bow and exhaled with relief - the sound remained the same, strong and powerful. As a reward for this, Paganini presented Vilhom with a precious box encrusted with stones.
At the same time, he explained his gift in this way: “I had two such caskets. I gave one of them to my doctor - he healed my body, and I give you the second - you healed my "Cannone".
After the death of the Maestro, the violin received another name - "The Widow of Paganini". Not a single musician was able to extract sound from it, as Niccolo did.
In the will of the great musician Paganini, it was specified that the collection of violins, and especially the Cannone, should be donated to his native city, Genoa, and never leave its borders.
The museum (Palazzo Doria Tursi) has kept the violin since 1851. By the way, some of the Maestro's things, his personal letters, scores and accessories for music lessons are exhibited in the same hall.
The famous violin is stored in a special showcase in which certain conditions are maintained - the temperature must be 20 degrees, and the humidity should not exceed 50%.
The violin is kept in the hall of the museum, but even today it continues to sound.. True, this right is not granted to everyone - only the musician who will be declared the winner can play the Master's violin. music competition named after Paganini. And this musician plays the famous violin in front of a crowded hall ...
October 27, 1782 was born worldwide famous composer and violinist Niccolo Paganini. It was said that Niccolo, who did not have the most calm character, was completely transformed while playing his favorite instrument. The musician had a difficult childhood and interesting life. There are still rumors that after the funeral of Niccolo, the sounds of the violin were heard in the cemetery for many years.
Niccolo was born into a poor Genoese family. The father often locked his son in the pantry so that he would learn complex work. Every day, for many hours, the future violinist studied music, being deprived of a normal childhood. Niccolo played his first concert at the age of 11. He performed his own variations of the composers' favorite works.
Niccolo already in his youth looked very mysterious - pale skin, bruises under his eyes, painful thinness. There were rumors that the musician made a deal with the devil, and therefore plays the violin so amazingly. In fact, Niccolo was very superstitious person and he himself was terribly afraid of the devil. He even stopped visiting the gambling house, because he decided that Satan was helping him win.
Each concert of Paganini was not just a performance, but a whole show. The composer thought over each exit, showed various tricks like an “accidentally” broken string or a violin that suddenly got out of tune. Niccolo often parodied the sounds of village animals, and also imitated the guitar, trumpet, flute and other instruments.
Paganini tried not to write down composed music so that no one else can do it. Because of this, unfortunately, not all of the maestro's works have been preserved.
Niccolo was a Freemason. There are documents confirming this. In addition, the musician wrote the music of the Masonic anthem to the words of Lanchetti.
The musician was a collector. He collected violins, and among the many examples of the instrument were such treasures as the Stradivari, Guarneri and Amati violins. He loved his Guarneri violin so much that he bequeathed it to the city of Genoa so that no musician would play it after his death. This violin was named "The Widow of Paganini".
Paganini was very an absent-minded person. He did not remember the year of his birth, he forgot how many brothers he had, but he always said that his memory was in his hands and entirely belonged to music.
On the birthday of Emperor Napoleon, Paganini wrote a sonata for one string for him. For Niccolo, a broken string during a concert was not a hindrance - he knew how to play the same piece both with all the strings and with the absence of one or two.
Niccolo studied music for 14-16 hours a day. He forgot about food and sleep, training all day long.
You can often hear the legend of the imperishability of the maestro. 56 years after his death, Niccolo's body showed no signs of decomposition, which was confirmed by several people involved in the reburial of the composer and musician. And this definitely suggests that Paganini is certainly not an ordinary person.
Why do some great violinists of the world prefer to play Stradivari instruments, while others prefer Guarneri? What is the difference between Stradivari and Guarneri?
Let's clarify right away that Stradivari and Guarneri were whole families of violin makers, and if we look at the catalog of Italian violin makers compiled by Karel Yalovets, we will see that the Guarneri surname is represented by ten various masters, and the Stradivari family has at least three. by the most famous representatives these surnames are Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri Del Gesu. It is believed that about 650 Stradivari violins and about 140 by Guarneri have survived in the world.
Antonio Stradivari was born in 1644 in Cremona. WITH early age began to learn the art of making musical instruments. A violin with the etiquette "Antonio Stradivari's student of Nicolò Amati" has been preserved, made by the great Italian at the age of 13. Researchers of Stradivari's work have not come to a consensus whether it is possible to consider him a student of Amati. In 1667, Stradivari began to work in his own workshop. From an early age, he showed outstanding talent and diligence, as evidenced by orders for the production of entire orchestras and quartets. string- bowed instruments from the kings of Spain, England, Poland. Stradivari made not only violins, violas and cellos, but also harps, guitars, zithers. Contemporaries considered Antonio Stradivari mean and gloomy. He was incredibly wealthy and constantly busy making tools. Perhaps he was envied, on this occasion even the saying has been preserved: "Rich as Stradivarius." He lived for 93 years and had 11 children. Only two of his sons Francesco and Omobone continued his father's work, but did not achieve significant results after his death. On one of the most famous instruments Stradivari cello "Dupor" (1711) from 1974 to 2007 was played by Mstislav Rostropovich, who called him his "mistress". After the musician's death, Duport was purchased for $20 million by the Japan Music Association.
Guarneri (Guarnieri, Guarneri or Guarnerius), famous family Italian masters of bowed instruments of the 17th-18th centuries. The most famous is Giuseppe Guarneri (1698 - 1744), nicknamed Guarneri Del Gesu. Although Andrea, Pietro Giovanni (Mantuan) and Pietro (Venetian) created quite a few masterpieces in their lives, the instruments of Guarneri Del Gesu came close, and according to some musicians and experts even surpassed the Stradivari violins. Guarneri Del Gesu lived only 46 years. He signed the violins with the monogram "IHS", which is one of the sacred signs of Christ - "Jesus Christ the Savior". That is why Giuseppe Guarneri is called Guarneri del Jesu, which means “Guarneri of Jesus”. It is believed that he worked and lived in a monastery and belonged to a religious order.
What is the phenomenon of the small Italian city of Cremona, which gave the world a galaxy of great violin masters? This secret is yet to be fully unraveled. Versions about "small ice age”, which affected the density of wood, attempts to discover the secret of making and applying varnish and other scattered studies do not give complete picture success of the great Italian violin makers.
Amati and Stradivari violins were valued even during the lifetime of these great masters, and Giuseppe Guarneri Del Gesu became famous after his death, mainly thanks to his no less famous countryman Niccolò Paganini.
IN early XIX century, the violin became extremely popular in Europe. Such interest was caused by the triumphant tour of Niccolo Paganini. The violinist had seven or nine Stradivari instruments, Tyrolean violins, perhaps also Vuillaume instruments. But one day, after a concert, a certain sugar merchant offered Paganini to buy a violin by a little-known master at that time, Giuseppe Guarneri, on the lower deck of which was the sign “I. H.S.” great musician fell in love with Guarneri's violin, named it "Cannon" ("Cannone") for the deadly power of sound, and bequeathed it to his native city of Genoa. After such advertising, the instruments of Guarneri del Gesu began to be valued no less than the creations of Stradivari. Today, the violin named "Cannon" is still kept in one of the museums of Genoa and is insured for 3 million euros. They look after her, from time to time they let talented young violinists play on her.
In May 1999, the "Cannon" was brought to Kyiv. The famous Ukrainian violinist Bogodar Kotorovich played a concert on the legendary violin at the Opera Theatre.
Here is how he commented on the violin that belonged to Paganini: “... You know, when I took the Paganini violin in my hands, the first thing I felt was disappointment: after all, I usually play on an exact copy of the master Vilhom. At the rehearsal, "The Gun" did not make much of an impression, but later, at the concert, it simply changed. It was inexplicable, and not without mysticism. When I played, I suddenly felt - as if someone was playing behind me. I felt only sounds, maybe it's an illusion, a fantasy, but it seemed to me that there was a double behind me. Remember, when Paganini was portrayed with a violin, they painted the playing devil behind him ... "
The violin was paid an unprecedented sum insured collateral-4 million dollars, but the true value of this instrument cannot be established, this violin is priceless!
Vadim Repin is called the "Russian Paganini", in one of the interviews he was asked about his impressions of playing the Stradivari and Guarneri violins.
“... On the one hand, Stradivarius are violins that sound on their own, they have an incredibly magical sound, as if in heaven. Guarneri violins, in my opinion, have a slightly wider range of sound palette. Guarneri violins can even growl or bark, and at the same time, they have incredible magical sound properties. Guarneri violins require more high level skills of playing the violin, but at the same time give more opportunity to reveal their personality. Stradivari violins always sound beautiful, but as if they are trying to impose their qualities on the one who plays them... If we turn to the history of violin performance, the greatest violinists (Kreisler, Heifetz, Stern, Kogan, Milstein and others) preferred to play Guarneri violins , except for a few (for example, Oistrakh, who preferred Stradivarius). It is also worth mentioning that the Guarneri violin is twice as expensive.”
Leonid Kogan preferred an instrument made by the Cremonese master Guarneri del Gesu. On such a violin, bought in 1958, he played behind the scenes the "role" of the great Italian in Leonid Menaker's film Niccolo Paganini. All his life he sought to unravel the phenomenon of the "violinist-devil". Like Paganini, he preferred an instrument made by Guarneri del Gesù to Stradivari violins, believing that "its complexity and advantage is to make the sound yourself, with them the individual sound of the violinist eventually reaches the listener much more fully and easily than with Stradivari".
Yehudi Menuhin, Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman played the violin "Vietante" made by Guarneri in 1741.
Anne-Sophie Mutter owns two Stradivari violins (The Emiliani (1703), and Lord Dunn-Raven (1710), Ida Handel also prefers Stradivari violins.
But for example, the world-famous violist Yuri Bashmet has not changed his viola for many years Italian master Paolo Testore (Milan, 1758).
Sound tests, when performers play behind a curtain and experts evaluate instruments by sound, usually end up with the fact that even reputable specialists make mistakes and put violins that have nothing to do with extra class instruments in the first place.
