The violin is a unique instrument, a sound that does not change even after several centuries. Instruments created by the golden hands of great masters have a noble appearance and most importantly, their strength, softness and elegance of sound are not lost even after centuries. Behind the most expensive violins in the world are extraordinary stories, dozens of eminent and not very owners. This article is about some of the finest violin exhibits in the history of musical art.
Violin "Vietnam"
The most expensive violin in the world (this instrument was made by the legendary Guarneri) was put up for auction by the Chicago company Bein & Fushi. The tool was sold for a fabulous amount of $ 18 million. Auctions of this kind are extremely rare and always attract the attention of many people who truly appreciate art.
The man who purchased the violin wanted to stay in the shade. He immediately began looking for a musician who would use it for the rest of his life. Anne Akiko Meyers was lucky to play the most expensive instrument in the world of violins. She breathed life into this musical instrument again.
The master created the violin in 1741. Later in the 19th century, it was called “Vietnam”, as the Belgian violinist and legendary composer Henri Vietan played on it. After him, the master of the violin was Eugene Izai. In the 20th century, Philip Newman was lucky to play the most expensive violin in the world. It was acquired by Isaac Wolfson, Newman's cousin. Isaac was a very wealthy man and was engaged in philanthropy. Among his good deeds, it is worth noting that he founded one of Oxford's colleges. After Newman passed away, the violin was bought by a great art lover Ian Stucker. He owned the tool before he got to the auction.
This is one story of the famous violin, which is presented from confirmed facts. But in fact, there were much more masters who were lucky enough to extract sound from a wonderful instrument. The fact is that not all violin owners were musicians, and they gladly shared the instrument with great meters.
The violin “Vietnam” was played by such musical geniuses of the 20th century as:
- Perlman;
- Menukhin;
- Pinchas.
The instrument was in the hands of many famous and not very soloists. The most expensive violin in the world often acted as a concert instrument.
The readers of the article were probably surprised by the price of the violin that Guarneri created, because the stereotype that the best in this matter was Stradivarius had long taken root in society. Nobody argues that it was difficult to surpass him in mastery. However, the name of Guarneri del Gesu, which was no worse, and in some places even better than Anthony Stradivari, was undeservedly forgotten by many.
Unknown Guarneri
Guarneri was not a famous master during his lifetime, unlike Stradivari, who was very rich. However, until his death, Antonio considered Guarneri his main competitor. Unfortunately, fame came to Guarneri only after death, because the master was a drunkard and ended his days in prison. Even in conclusion, he continued to make stunning musical instruments. The raw material for them was delivered to him by the jailer, who then sold the master’s brainchild for a song.
Guarneri vs Stradivarius
The violins of these two masters are beautiful in their own way. Experts compare the tools created by Stradivarius with vanilla ice cream. Guarneri's violins are more similar to quality dark chocolate. Each dessert is good in its own way, each has its own connoisseurs. The fact that Antonio’s popularity is twice as high can also be explained by the fact that Guarneri died at the age of 46. His life path was much shorter than that of Stradivarius. Accordingly, there are significantly fewer tools created by Guarneri in the world. There are only 140 Guarneri violins on the planet. Antonio had many times more achievements. Comparison with desserts, the experts conducted for a reason. It accurately shows how different the tools of the masters are.
The sound of Stradivarius violins is light and capable of the subtlest changes in tone. The Guarneri instrument produces a deeper and heavier sound. Guarneri loved violins and Paganini. He owned one of the most famous copies of Cannone Guarnerius.
Paganini win
In the collection of Niccolo, by the way, there were several violins created by Stradivarius. An amazing legend goes about one of them. The story is often silent that the young Paganini was an avid gambler. One summer evening, a seventeen-year-old musician walked into the tavern, where patrons played cards. He joined the men and quickly lost all his cash. The musician had no choice but to put his violin at stake, convincing the players that it was not cheap. Paganini quickly lost the instrument, and the upset asked the men to give it to him at least for the evening, since he had to play it on the same day.
Then an unknown man called him and handed him an amazingly beautiful expensive violin, offering to play the instrument and not disrupt the performance. It turned out to be the legendary master Guarneri. After the concert, he gave Paganini the violin and for life remained the main admirer of Niccolo's music. The violinist did not remain in debt and made every effort so that an unknown master would gain a name. This violin went with Paganini all his life. He cherished her as his own soul and bequeathed to a museum in the hometown of Genoa. Here the exhibit can be seen now. He is there under the name "Widow Paganini."
Lady Blunt Antonio Stradivari
This tool saw the world in 1721. By the way, Antonio also engaged in the production of cellos and viola. Today in the world there are about 600 musical instruments created by his hands. Collectors are constantly hunting for these outstanding exhibits. After all, how much quality they know every musician. The violins nevertheless occupy the most honorable place in the Stradivarius heritage.
"Lady Blunt." This is the most expensive violin in the world near Stradivarius; several years ago, Tarisio auction house sold this instrument for a huge sum - 15.89 million dollars. The buyer wished to remain anonymous. The funds went to charity, or rather, as assistance to people who suffered from the cataclysms in Japan.
Famous violin owners
For the past 30 years, Byron’s granddaughter Anna Blant has owned the violin. It is her name that bears the legendary instrument. Before Byron's heiress, the owners of the violin were:
- Parisian Jean Baptist Wiillaume;
- Richard Bennet (collector);
- Sam Bloomfield
The violin was also owned by the Nippon Music Foundation. At the time of the auction, the instrument was in a state of little difference from the original. This is not surprising. The violin is a tool that lends itself well to restoration, because an expensive thing was created from the highest quality wood.
$ 5 Million Niccolo Paganini Musical Instrument
The creator of the most expensive violin in the world at Paganini's collection is Carlo Bergonzi. The instrument was sold after the death of a virtuoso by his heir and son, Achilles. At different times, the instrument was owned by musical virtuosos and simply aristocrats who were far from musical mastery.
The longest period was in the collection of John Corigliano. The musician was part of the numerous composition of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
When the virtuoso left the world, his relatives sold the violin at Sothebys auction. Its new owner also wished to remain anonymous.
Today, one of the most expensive violins in the world is stored in specially created conditions for it. This is a room in the bank, which is heavily guarded. A certain microclimate has been created for the violin. The owner insured her for 4.5 million dollars.