The article covers Nico, a homeless musician in the North End, who was robbed at knifepoint of his 125-year-old violin. Community benefactors organized a replacement violin for him, presented by David Oriola at the San Gennaro Feast, with support from Berklee College of Music personnel and North End residents. The piece notes Nico’s gratitude and his continued performances on the Prado near the Paul Revere Mall.
Planet Hugill reports on a concert by I Musicanti at Conway Hall on 15 September 2019 featuring chamber versions of Beethoven symphonic music, including an anonymous string-quartet arrangement of Symphony No. 1, plus modern arrangements of the Violin Concerto in D op. 61 and the Romances for violin and string quintet by Carl Hinde, discussed by reviewer Robert Hugill.
NBC Connecticut reports that Windsor police recovered a late 1800s French violin that had been a family heirloom for generations and returned it to owner Tim Lawrence in time for his cousin’s wedding; investigators are continuing work on securing arrest warrants for those involved.
Tan Chin Seng, a Kuala Lumpur native, won two gold medals at the 10th International Violin Making Competition in Sesto Fiorentino, Italy, for a handcrafted violin named Negaraku and a viola named Jalur Gemilang in the non-professional category. He expressed euphoric feelings about the double victory.
Yuriy Bekker, concertmaster of the Charleston Symphony, will perform on a 1638 Guarneri violin loaned by an anonymous patron for the 2019-2020 season. The instrument, made by Andrea Guarneri, is one of the earliest Guarneri violins and highly coveted alongside Stradivari instruments.
Anne Akiko Meyers, a world-renowned violinist, performed on the Vieuxtemps Guarneri Del Gesu, a violin made in 1741 that is loaned to her for life. The instrument, purchased for over $16 million in 2013, is showcased at the Boise Philharmonic’s 60th anniversary season kickoff.
The article features Rachel Podger speaking about her Antonio Pazarini violin, its journey toward a period-accurate Baroque setup, and the process of reverting it from a modern arrangement. Naomi Sadler written piece describes Podger’s six-year search, the restoration, and her involvement in the re-Baroquing, including a tailored neck.
Vilde Frang plays the Stravinsky Violin Concerto with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France conducted by Joshua Weilerstein at the Maison de la Radio et de la Musique in Paris on 26 September 2019. The programme also includes Rameau, Bach, and Mendelssohn.
The post covers Day 5 of the 46th International Viola Congress in Poznan, highlighting Kenneth Martinson’s lecture-recital on Marco Anzoletti, including Anzoletti’s Viola Sonata (1900) performed with Krzysztof Sowinski at piano and references to Anzoletti’s twelve studies (caprices) and related works.