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What do you know about its history?
It belonged to 19th-century Belgian violinist and composer Henri Vieuxtemps, who was so in love with the instrument, he wanted to be buried with it. There is a photo from his funeral in 1881, where the violin was carried behind his hearse and what looks like most of Belgium in attendance to honor him. The great Eugene Ysaÿe, who was also his student, carried the violin at his funeral. Ysaÿe coveted it and performed on it for a while but unfortunately wasn’t able to afford the violin.
It made its way to Ian Stoutzker of Britain, who preserved and took care of it for over 50 years. He was a close friend of Yehudi Menuhin, and loaned the violin to him for some concerts. Menuhin wrote him a letter saying that if he had to choose between rescuing the Vieuxtemps or his own violin (the 1714 “ex-Soil” Stradivari) from a fire, he would hands-down run after the Vieuxtemps.
If given the ability, what would your instrument say to you if the two of you sat down for tea?
Please pass something stronger my way . . . . Like a fine whiskey.
Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers Discusses the Soul of Her 1741 ‘ex-Vieuxtemps’ Guarneri del Gesù
The above is from 2013 when she got it.
And just because the above is her when she was 11.
It belonged to 19th-century Belgian violinist and composer Henri Vieuxtemps, who was so in love with the instrument, he wanted to be buried with it. There is a photo from his funeral in 1881, where the violin was carried behind his hearse and what looks like most of Belgium in attendance to honor him. The great Eugene Ysaÿe, who was also his student, carried the violin at his funeral. Ysaÿe coveted it and performed on it for a while but unfortunately wasn’t able to afford the violin.
It made its way to Ian Stoutzker of Britain, who preserved and took care of it for over 50 years. He was a close friend of Yehudi Menuhin, and loaned the violin to him for some concerts. Menuhin wrote him a letter saying that if he had to choose between rescuing the Vieuxtemps or his own violin (the 1714 “ex-Soil” Stradivari) from a fire, he would hands-down run after the Vieuxtemps.
If given the ability, what would your instrument say to you if the two of you sat down for tea?
Please pass something stronger my way . . . . Like a fine whiskey.
Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers Discusses the Soul of Her 1741 ‘ex-Vieuxtemps’ Guarneri del Gesù
The above is from 2013 when she got it.
And just because the above is her when she was 11.