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Violinist falls, fracturing $1 million 1772 fiddle
Columbus Dispatch ^ | Feb 14, 2008 | AP

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: classicalmusic; davidgarrett; gbguadagnini; oops
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Comment #81 Removed by Moderator

To: MotleyGirl70
We can be just as juvenile as male Freepers too

no you can't. He's a clod.

82 posted on 02/14/2008 5:03:28 PM PST by gusopol3
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To: MotleyGirl70

Thanks for the link..amazing young man. I had not heard of him before either.


83 posted on 02/14/2008 5:07:23 PM PST by Irish Eyes
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To: proxy_user
Maybe the violin cushioned his fall?

He could have turned to answer someone behind him;been pushed;stuff happens.

Groundhog Daty Eve I took about two steps out of my car and went down hard on the ice ground;it happened so quickly I barely kept from hitting my face.A few years back ,a friend stepped out from his house and fell on unseen ice,struck his head and needed stitches.

Falls happen quickly and there isn't much to be done while you're falling.

84 posted on 02/14/2008 5:07:56 PM PST by hoosierham (Waddaya mean Freedom isn't free ?;will you take a creditcard?)
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To: proxy_user
I would think a hard case would provide better protection...

After 200+ years, the glue joints on the violin must be pretty brittle. Bouncing it down a staircase, even in a case, would likely do a tune, so to speak, on the instrument.

85 posted on 02/14/2008 5:09:30 PM PST by 6SJ7
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To: RDTF
How do they know that those slivers of wood was the violin? I mean, the insurance company refused to take my word that the ashes I presented to them was what was left of my precious Mona Lisa painting.

What is a Louvre anyways?

86 posted on 02/14/2008 5:09:36 PM PST by lowbridge
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To: Billthedrill
I think this is a English guy. I think he would be more of a Pancakes with Guus or The Last Macaroon type of guy.
87 posted on 02/14/2008 5:09:48 PM PST by ThomasThomas ( John McCain a true BLUE conservative)
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To: ElkGroveDan
Shows how much you know. That's KABOOM he's holding.

Yes, but you have to clean the surface of the violin, before applying the Mighty Putty. And what could be better for cleaning 1-million dollar violins than Kaboom?

88 posted on 02/14/2008 5:12:26 PM PST by holymoly (Molon labe.)
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To: 19th LA Inf
Sorry, wrong century for that stuff. I recently bought a lifetime supply (one pound) of genuine hide glue, made in New Jersey USA, to install a new neck on my banjo. That's what the old boys in the 1700s probably used to stick fiddles together.

My reed organ needs the to have the hinges on the bellows replaced; probably the rubber cloth as well. Unfortunately, the gentleman who helped me with the last bunch of restoration died last year. I've read the instructions at the Reed Organ Society web page, but I was wondering if you'd have any additional ideas for suppliers or people in the Chicagoland area who might be able to help.

89 posted on 02/14/2008 5:16:27 PM PST by supercat
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To: najida

“Why are all the gorgeous ones gay?!?!”

Because us less than gorgeous guys convince you they are. ;>)


90 posted on 02/14/2008 5:19:13 PM PST by Gator113 (America just traded away the possibility of a dream, for what is certain to be a nightmare.)
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To: Beowulf9
Charlie could loan this English feller a fiddle.
91 posted on 02/14/2008 5:19:46 PM PST by Cecily
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To: proxy_user

“I can’t entirely buy this story. I would think a hard case would provide better protection, and such a serious fall would have injured the violinist as well.”

Yep. Doesn’t pass the smell test.


92 posted on 02/14/2008 5:22:04 PM PST by Kirkwood
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To: RDTF

Wanna get away?????


93 posted on 02/14/2008 5:22:53 PM PST by tpanther
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To: Gator113

Ah HAH!

Thankyouverymuch...
I’m goin’ back to youtube do do some droolin’.


94 posted on 02/14/2008 5:25:11 PM PST by najida (I am so grateful that stupid isn't contagious.)
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To: Oorang

Hubba hubba


95 posted on 02/14/2008 5:27:34 PM PST by TNdandelion ("I have no doubt that Sen. Clinton would make a good President"--John McCain)
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To: Oorang

Hubba hubba


96 posted on 02/14/2008 5:27:39 PM PST by TNdandelion ("I have no doubt that Sen. Clinton would make a good President"--John McCain)
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To: najida

try this one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPoP05BFz3A&feature=related


97 posted on 02/14/2008 5:27:49 PM PST by RDTF (kill the terrorists, punch the hippies)
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To: najida
Why are all the gorgeous ones gay?!?!

I'm not...

98 posted on 02/14/2008 5:29:23 PM PST by null and void (President Hillary!™ Clinton? Time to invest in body bags. Again...)
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To: RDTF

Yipes! Fabio with a stringed instrument.


99 posted on 02/14/2008 5:29:45 PM PST by livius
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To: null and void

Learn to play fiddle and come over :)


100 posted on 02/14/2008 5:30:20 PM PST by najida (I am so grateful that stupid isn't contagious.)
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