Written by: Andy Fein, luthier at Fein Violins
& Kevin Berdine
Violinists
Hilary Hahn
Fritz Kreisler
1742 ex-David Guarneri del Gesu
1740 "Ysaye" Guarneri del Gesu
& Kevin Berdine
When you hear a great performer, do you ever wonder, "What violin are they playing? Is that a Strad?" A common assumption is that all violin soloists are playing on the violins of Antonius Stradivarius. Many are, but not all.
Then there are those lucky few that own and play on more than one great instrument. Two Stradivaris or a Stradivarius and a Guarnerius. Hmm, what should I play tonight?
Violinists
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| Playing the 1703 Emiliani Stradivarius |
1742 "Dushkin" Guarneri del Gesu
Sergio Peresson, Fein Violins SOLD this instrument for Mr. Zukerman
Hilary Hahn
1864 Copy of "Paganini's Cannone" made by J.B. Vuilaume
Peter and Wendela Moes
Itzhak Perlman
1702 "Conte di Fontana" Stradivari
1697 "Molitor" Stradivari
1730 "Royal Spanish" Stradivari
Fritz Kreisler
1711 Lady "Inchiquin" Stradivari
1711 Earl of "Plymouth" Stradivari
1726 "Greville" Stradivari
1733 "Huberman" Stradivari
1734 "Lord Amherst of Hackney" Stradivari
Maxim Vengerov
1727 "Kreutzer" Stradivari
Jascha Heifetz
1714 "Dolphin" Stradivari
1731 "Heifetz-Piel"Stradivari
1734 Stradivari
1736 Carlo Tononi
1742 ex-David Guarneri del Gesu
Nathan Milstein
1716 "Goldman" Stradivari
1710 "ex-Dancla" Stradivari
Ansaldo Poggi
Ansaldo Poggi
Isaac Stern
1740 "Ysaye" Guarneri del Gesu
1728 "Kruse Vormbaum" Stradivari
1733 ex-Stern Bergonzi
1737 "Stern-Alard" Guarneri del Gesu
1739-1757 Michele Angelo Bergonzi
1754 Guadagnini
1840 "ex-Nicholas" Vuilaume
2 violins by Samuel Zygmuntowicz
Peresson
1713 Gibson ex-Huberman Stradivari
1732 "Tom Tyler" Stradivari
Sarah Chang
1717 Guarneri del Gesu
Midori
1742 ex-David Guarneri
1734 ex-Huberman Guarneri del Gesu
1714 "Soil" Stradivari
1733 "Khevenhuller" Stradivari
Peresson
Gidon Kremer
1734 "Baron Feilitzsch" Stradivari
Lara St. John
Kyung-wha Chung
1702 "Lyall" Stradivari
Rachel Barton Pine
1742 "ex-Soldat" Guarneri
1770 Nicolo Gagliano
Kyung-wha Chung
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| "Harrison" Stradivari image from National Music Museum Website |
Gil Shaham
1699 "Countess Polignac"Stradivari
Kyung Chung-Wha no longer plays the Harrison Stradivari of 1693 — it is in the Shrine to Music Museum in South Dakota. She plays Michael Rabin's ex-Kubelik, Ferni del Gesu of 1735.
ReplyDeleteThat's very interesting, thank you. I wondered, can anyone shed light on the question which instrument did Kyung-Wha Chung use to make her recordings? According to Cozio.com, the del Gesu came into her possession in 1974, so presumably her iconic 1970 debut recording of Sibelus/Tchaikovsky was made using the Harrison 1693 Strad, which she parted with in 1984/5 sometime. After 1974, which recordings were made with the Strad vs. the del Gesu?
ReplyDeleteActually Ms Chung plays del Gesu ex-Rode more often these days, which she aquired around 85. So one can presume she sold Harrison to buy ex-Rode about then. She fell out of love for the Harrison relatively soon; as early as in 73, she already complains that Harrison can be too harsh. So one can assume she prefered ex-Kubelik for her post 74 recordings right up until her Con Amore recording in 85. I'm not sure which of the del Gesu she used for her post 85 recordings, but I can pretty much assuredly say she prefers ex-Rode in recent years.
ReplyDeleteI would be interested to see a list of all players who played Michael Rabins " Kubelik " G. del Gusu 1735 after Michael died in 1972.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pity the list is not complete. Znaider, Ehnes, Zimmermann and Capucon would interest me too
DeletePrior to Rabin playing it, it was played by Kubelick as you mention, as well as Franz von Vecsey for a bit!
DeleteThanks for the comprehensive list. Salvatore Accardo is missing. So is Leonidas Kavakos. Also, it would be nice to include the newer generation violinists. I call them the "Sarah Chang's generation". All born circa 1980. They are Hillary Hahn, Janine Jensen, Julia Fischer, Renaud Capuçon.
ReplyDeleteGidon Kremer plays mostly on a Nicolo Amati, and I think that's the violin his playing in the picture shown here.
ReplyDelete