Violinist falls, fracturing $1 million 1772 fiddle

Columbus Dispatch ^ | Feb 14, 2008 | AP

[RDTF]

LONDON (AP) -- Can his fractured fiddle - a million dollar Guadagnini - be fixed? It's too early to tell.

David Garrett, a former model who has been called the David Beckham of the classical scene, said he tripped while carrying his 18th century violin as he was leaving London's Barbican Hall after a performance, smashing it to bits.

"I had it over my shoulder in its case and I fell down a concrete flight of stairs backward," Garrett said Thursday. "When I opened the case, much of my G.B. Guadagnini had been crushed."

Garrett said he bought the 1772 violin for $1 million in 2003, and he is now hoping to get it repaired in New York, where he is based.

"I hope and pray that it can be fixed, but if it can't, I hope my insurance policy will let me buy another great violin," the 26-year-old musician said. He told The Associated Press that other published accounts saying the violin was a Stradivarius were incorrect. Guadagnini is believed by some to have been a student of Antonio Stradivari.

The accident occurred Dec. 27 but only came to light this week when he returned to London for another concert at the Barbican and told British reporters what had happened.

For his Valentine's Day concert there, he is playing a Stradivarius that's been loaned to him.

-snip-

[G Larry]

Carried it over his shoulder???
....a million dollar fiddle????
Most folks would think to be careful...
Most folks don’t have such concerns.

[Cecily]

Don't forget to use this for some of the tougher broken spots.

[najida]

I have never been so envious of a musical instrument in my life! Geez louise....put me where that fiddle is....

[RDTF]

did you watch the one I just posted - black and white video playing Carmen Fantasia ? holy cow

[najida]

That’s what I was referring too....I have a frozen bottle of water thawing out on my head now.

[ironmaidenPR2717]

Sept. 2005 - “luckily” I only busted my knee, not a violin.

[RDTF]

I’ll buy that CD!

[MHGinTN]

Vanessa Mae plays a white one, all hooked up to an amp! He needs to pocket $950,000 and buy himslef somehting nice with the other $50,000.

[RDTF]

pinging you to a little diversion from all that scary stuff...

[Oorang]

I see he makes you stutter :-)

[Petronski]

...what could be better for cleaning 1-million dollar violins than Kaboom?

I was just telling my wife that just last week.

[Larry Lucido]

Pete Townshend asks, "What's the big deal?"

[RDTF]

so is he American or British??

[netmilsmom]

He can come and fiddle at my house anytime!

[RDTF]

German

http://www.david-garrett-fans.com/english/biography.html

[RDTF]

hey!

[kalee]

ping

[netmilsmom]

What a nice talented young man he is. My, my, my. XD

[CaptRon]

There goes the hoedown.

[netmilsmom]

Hey, I was thinking about it and I think you should have a ping list. And a really clever name for it.

Thanks for the ping, Fearless Leader!