Posted on 02/14/2008 4:30:36 PM PST by 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-
(Excerpt) Read more at dispatch.com ...
He fixed the broken neck on my stand-up bass and did a fantastic job (it was broken at the dovetail joint).
I don’t know the technical term, but I’ve got to think that the wood gets really stressed on cold, dry days. Good to hear everything can be put back in place.
They say when he fell he yelled “Guad-dag-nini!!!”
Isn't that the guy from Lost?
Not guilty!
:)
As a classical musician, it probably hurts him to have it destroyed, more than it hurts Lloyd’s to have to pay out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqGfQOJE2q8
I felt the same way when I discovered Joaquin Cortez, like DANG! Have I been under a rock!!!
I don’t know which is more sorely lacking in my case: the patience or the skill. But those who can pull off those kinds of repairs are worth finding and staying on good terms with.
It’s only fair to ping you to this one
Shows how much you know. That's KABOOM he's holding.
Ditto that.
Here's a good article I just found on him.
Introducing... Violinist David Garrett.
Lucky, lucky fiddle in those pictures!!!
Lol.
Completely innocent!
We can be just as juvenile as male Freepers too ; )
Oops!
Exactly!
Not guilty....lots.
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