Fall destroys rare Stradivarius

[becka]

He should have taken better care as he was going down the stairs; I bet he was just fiddling around and not paying attention.

We are not talking about a 10 year old but a 26 year old world renowned musician who was quite aware of his instrument. I imagine he feels terrible but I am sure it was an accident. Why should he not be allowed to play another one just because he fell one time?

 

[Talking Hands]

Accidents happen and this could have happened to any string player no matter their age. Give the guy a break. I am sure he is devastated. These people view their instruments in the same way we view our children. When my daughter was in a car accident and her viola was damaged you would have thought someone had abused her child. Fortunately it was repairable and the maker was able to do it for her. She couldn't care less that she had injuries. He thoughts were only for her precious viola.

 

[kaybracon]

He should have taken better care as he was going down the stairs; I bet he was just fiddling around and not paying attention.

We are not talking about a 10 year old but a 26 year old world renowned musician who was quite aware of his instrument. I imagine he feels terrible but I am sure it was an accident. Why should he not be allowed to play another one just because he fell one time?

OK, I thought it would be obvious, but I guess not. Please refer to the emboldened word above...

 

[bumbershoot]

Why didn't the case protect it? My brother's violin case was hard-sided and quite sturdy. Seems odd, to me.

 

[nhrenee]

I can only imagine how bad he feels.

But you are cracking me up with your playing around.

 

[nhrenee]

Maybe they should give him another ONLY if he hires a professional violin carrier.

Is this really a job?

 

[Lanshark]

I would have thought the case for such a priceless instrument would have been sturdy enough to have a Mack truck run over it.

 

[ChrisFL]

It reminds me of this classic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4GYg-5AdRw

 

[Barbossa]

That's a pretty crappy violin case he had. If I had a $5 million violin, I'd have the strongest violin case possible custom made for it. If they can make a flight recorder survive a plane crash, they can certainly make a disasterproof violin case.

 

[LilyWDW]

He should have taken better care as he was going down the stairs; I bet he was just fiddling around and not paying attention.

I got it!!!

 

[disneynutt1225]

I can't get through this thread without hearing Marie from "Everybody Loves Raymond" yelling at the boys "This is why we can't have nice things!!!".

Seriously, it was an accident. I'm sure he'll be more careful in the future.

 

[vettechick99]

Damn those stages that they elevate!

But really. Count me in for wondering why he had such a flimsy case.

Too bad for him, though. But is a Stradivarius that much better? And if so, why can't we create them anymore?

I guess I could google that last part.

 

[Macca1111]

"There are only so many left" well what happened to all the other ones then? I don't think anything is made to last an eternity. These things happen. It was an accident. Why should this guy be made to feel guilty.

All the other ones have been lost to the ages, because of people being careless like this. These violins were meant to and are capable of surviving hundreds of years, and they are better than anything we can produce now. He should feel incredibly guilty not only because he destroyed a priceless, irreplaceable work of art but because he doesn't even own it. He just destroyed someone's multi-million dollar investment. I realize it was an accident, but that doesn't excuse the extreme level of clumsiness here.

 

[Macca1111]

Damn those stages that they elevate!

But really. Count me in for wondering why he had such a flimsy case.

Too bad for him, though. But is a Stradivarius that much better? And if so, why can't we create them anymore?

I guess I could google that last part.

You should, you'll end up with a better answer than I can provide. However, short version, they don't know WHY Strads sound so much better than their contemporaries or anything more modern. There are hundreds of theories, but none has ever been successfully proven. They are irreplaceable and priceless.

 

[Charlotte ~08]

Garrett declined to say how much he had paid for his violin when he purchased it "six or seven" years ago.

The star said his accident came as he tried to make an early getaway from the Barbican Centre last year.

"I left the concert after the first half because my family was there and we wanted to grab dinner," he said.

"The stairs were very slippery and I still had my concert shoes on. I had my violin over my shoulder, but I slipped and landed on my violin case.

"I'm not happy about it at all, but it kind of saved my life."

 

[Macca1111]

Garrett declined to say how much he had paid for his violin when he purchased it "six or seven" years ago.

Well, at least it was his to destroy then, I guess...it's just so depressing.

 

[agnes!]

Garrett declined to say how much he had paid for his violin when he purchased it "six or seven" years ago.

The star said his accident came as he tried to make an early getaway from the Barbican Centre last year.

"I left the concert after the first half because my family was there and we wanted to grab dinner," he said.

"The stairs were very slippery and I still had my concert shoes on. I had my violin over my shoulder, but I slipped and landed on my violin case.

"I'm not happy about it at all, but it kind of saved my life."

I read through this and didn't think anything of it at first, but just thought of something...
Garrett purchased the Strad "six or seven years ago"? That means he bought it when he was 19 or 20.
Wow, fiddling around must pay quite welll, I think he would have paid at least several hundred thousand up to at least a million or so. Of oucrse, other folks take out house loans, I guess a professional violinist could get a loan to buy a rare instrument.

agnes!

 

[Macca1111]

I read through this and didn't think anything of it at first, but just thought of something...
Garrett purchased the Strad "six or seven years ago"? That means he bought it when he was 19 or 20.
Wow, fiddling around must pay quite welll, I think he would have paid at least several hundred thousand up to at least a million or so. Of oucrse, other folks take out house loans, I guess a professional violinist could get a loan to buy a rare instrument.

agnes!

That makes me think of a soloist we had come into the CSO about 4 years ago...she told the story that she and her husband (also a violinist) had a choice whether to buy a violin or a house...and they chose the violin. They share the "good" one for their professional appearances.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Poor guy! I know he must be completely devastated and feel terribly guilty.

I remember being SO paranoid as a young violinist (started at age 10) that I would smash up my instrument. And it was only worth a few hundred dollars!

My son's violin instructor has a 300-year-old violin and she routinely leaves it out on the edge of the table (no case) with several 3-5 year olds dashing around the room! Now THAT (to me, anyway) is stupid!

And Macca1111, I find your opinion BEYOND ridiculous. He should feel INCREDIBLY GUILTY because he is human and had an accident???? One that he will likely replay in his head forever and would give quite a bit to somehow go back in time and avoid? Are YOU perfect??? Give me a big, fat, hairy break.

 

[ilisao]

All the other ones have been lost to the ages, because of people being careless like this. These violins were meant to and are capable of surviving hundreds of years, and they are better than anything we can produce now. He should feel incredibly guilty not only because he destroyed a priceless, irreplaceable work of art but because he doesn't even own it. He just destroyed someone's multi-million dollar investment. I realize it was an accident, but that doesn't excuse the extreme level of clumsiness here.

I guess you are infallible? You have never fallen, had an accident or a mishap? You are perfect?

Oh, and it was his property.