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Lady Tennant Strad soldInstruments: I suppose everyone's seen this news item, but I'm posting it just in case.From Terry King Apr 22, 2005 5:01 pm US/Eastern (NEW YORK) A Stradivarius violin made in the late 17th century sold Friday for just over $2 million, the most ever paid for a musical instrument at auction, according to Christie's auction house, which handled the sale. The winning bid of $2,032,000 by a private American collector far surpassed the previous record of $1,776,940, set in 1990 for another Stradivarius violin, the auction house said. The instrument sold Friday, known as ``The Lady Tennant'' violin, was made by Antonio Stradivari in 1699 and ``illustrates the hallmarks of Stradivari's emerging Golden Period style,'' Christie's said in a statement announcing the sale. Both the buyer and seller wished to remain anonymous, according to Rik Pike, a spokesman for the auction house. The buyer will also pay the auction house a premium of about $260,000 for the deal. Another instrument in the auction, a cello made by Matteo Goffriller of Venice in 1707, sold for $620,800, a new record for Goffriller's instruments, the auction house said.
From Keith Loke
It must, as always, be a beautiful instrument. Oh, why do Strads have to cost so astronomically much? =)
Posted on April 25, 2005 at 09:03 AM From Maximillian Tresmond
Why? Because of marketing and art collectors such as our bidder in this case.Posted on April 25, 2005 at 01:59 PM Strads are beautiful, as all good instruments are. Monetary value is passing. I would venture to guess that any of the top modern makers could make as good a violin. You just have to wait 300 years for the final effect. :) From Keith Loke
...which is just about attainable with a hint of patience!
Posted on April 25, 2005 at 03:06 PM From Jessica Smith
Its sad that it went to a collector rather than a performer... oh well....
Posted on April 25, 2005 at 03:19 PM From Igor Yuzefovich
It's kind of ironic and funny at the same time to read this post, and to look over to the right a bit and see "Quality Violins from $68.82! Get one now!". Ahh, the world we are living in...
Posted on April 25, 2005 at 03:29 PM From Michael Avagliano
Take heart, Jessica. Most collectors do make the instruments they own available to players. They don't publicize it very much as a rule, because they're not looking for attention. But by and large, the instruments do end up in the hands of the people who can best put them to use.
Posted on April 25, 2005 at 05:44 PM From Jessica Smith
Thanks... That's good to know... Perhaps someone will get some good use out of it.Posted on April 25, 2005 at 05:58 PM ~Jessica From Igor Yuzefovich
I got a star! Yay! :-)
Posted on April 25, 2005 at 08:40 PM From Maximillian Tresmond
I always wonder why it is the Strads, and to a lesser extent Guarneri's that get all the publicity. What about the other amazing fiddles, mainly in respect to the Stainers, Magginis, Amatis, Da Salos, and the like?
Posted on April 25, 2005 at 09:23 PM From Pieter Viljoen
The general public only really cares about the most expensive this and that. Violinists hear about the other great instruments, but the general public doesn't really care.
Posted on April 25, 2005 at 10:26 PM From Igor Yuzefovich
Maximilian - it is the same reason anytime someone thinks of a super fast car - the first car that comes to mind is probably a Ferrari.... or a Lamborghini.... I would compare the Strad with a Ferrari and a Guarneri with a Lamborghini... But what about the Maseratis, the MacLarens, the Lotus'... These are all great cars, but the most recognizable are probably the Ferraris and the Lambos.... I am not quite sure what exactly made them the most popular - there are certainly amazing Strads and there are not so amazing Strads, but the Strad is consired the top - whether due to "Hollywood - izing" the name or some other reasons.Posted on April 25, 2005 at 10:23 PM Here is an interesting discussion thread - Line up the Cars and the Violins.... which one would you considere comparable: ex.: Strad - Ferrari, Guarneri - Lamborghini.. etc... From Enosh Kofler
I believe the previous record of $1,776,940 was set by Maxim Vengerov for the "Kreutzer" Strad. Is there a picture of this Lady Tennant Strad anywhere?
Posted on April 26, 2005 at 12:07 AM From Frederick Rupert
They have pictures of the 1699 Lady Tennant strad on www.cozio.com
Posted on May 12, 2005 at 02:40 AM From luke pattterson
Hmmm it's funny i just read this really old book last night called 'old violins' by a guy called... hold on have to run up stairs. ok H.R Hawies. It was really interesting and i'm suprised i got through it. But according Mr Haweis the reason why The Strad is so popular is because it's simply the greatest. Everything down to the last detail on a strad is next to perfect. And according to this book Stradavarius died when he was 93 and made instruments all the way to the end. Now that's a pretty long time to refine your art. Posted on May 12, 2005 at 04:45 AM Also perhaps another reason for the popularity is the tone accociated with different makers and when these particular tonal qualities were in demand. Haweis describes a strad with having a "bell" like tone and a del gesu to have a more trumpet powerful tone, Steiner a "Piercing" tone. Another interesting thing he brings up is a the "sexuality" instruments. Claiming that the strads are infact bisexual and those such as amati are female. Hmmm what else do i remember from the book. OOO at the end it has a general price list of what instruments cost in his day i'll put some down Strad: 2000- 200 pounds i wish it was still so today! From luke pattterson
Oh also in the back of the book is a "dictionary of violin makers" so if anyone had a question about a certain maker i would be happy to have a look. This book is really cool it's even got this guys thoughts and experience with different instruments from different schools and what not. anyway that's enough from me.
Posted on May 12, 2005 at 04:59 AM From Peggy B.
What does it say about Anton Thir, the "daddy" of the Thier (Thir) family line of slavic violin makers? The last name is spelled both ways, but usually Thir.
Posted on May 12, 2005 at 06:10 AM From luke pattterson
Awwww i've failed you guys already :-(Posted on May 12, 2005 at 06:19 AM The only thir in here is a Mr Johann George Thir, Vienna 1791. But i think makers are often refered to by the school of violin making rather than their homeland. Sorry for the lack of info. From Pauline Lerner
For those of you who haven't already read about this, here is what I've just learned about Yang Liu, "steward" of the Lady Tennant, and his upcoming inaugural performance with this $2 million gem.Posted on June 14, 2005 at 06:43 AM ---------------------------------- MOST EXPENSIVE INSTRUMENT EVER PURCHASED AT AUCTION
In making the announcement today, Geoff Fushi, President of the Stradivari Society, thanked the anonymous donor for contributing this legendary instrument for the use of a significant emerging artist. In naming Yang Liu as its first steward, Fushi saluted "Liu's rare and sensitive artistry which can only be enhanced by his partnership with Lady Tennant. "This is one of the world's greatest instruments," declared Fushi, "and it is with a reverence for its past glory that we put it into Yang's worthy hands." In accepting the honor, Mr. Liu paid homage to the new "Lady" in his life: "I have been given a soul mate for life, one with whom I shall share the most intimate communication with the world." The instrument was bestowed on Liu by the Society as an indefinite loan. "There is no greater privilege for a violinist", said Liu's agent, Marylou Witz, "than to be given such a noble musical trust." Yang Liu's debut performance with the Lady Tennant will included performances of Prokofiev's Second Violin Sonata, Beethoven's "Spring Sonata" and Bach's Chaconne, at the Millennium Stage in Kennedy Center, June 15, 2005 at 6:00 P.M. A prize winner of the Twelfth International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow (2002), Yang Liu made his concert debut at age 10 with the NHK Orchestra in Tokyo. He has performed with the Atlanta Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Hagen Symphony, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, China National Symphony Orchestra and the China Philharmonic Orchestra collaborating with such conductors as Robert Spano, David Zinman, Enrique Batiz, Federico Cortese, ZuoHuang, Chen XinCao Li, Xian Zhang, and Eric Kunzel, Mischa Santora, and Ernst van Tie. An interest in expanding the violin repertoire, he has begun commissioning composers including Chinese composer Gao-Ping. A student with Yao-Ji Lin at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, he then moved to the United States to study with Dorothy Delay and Kurt Sassmannshaus at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He is currently on the faculty of the Roosevelt University Chicago College of Performing Arts. He will teach and perform this summer at the Great Wall International Music Academy in Beijing, China. -------------------------------- My initial response was to cancel everything on my schedule for June 15 and go to the Kennedy Center to hear him play. However, he will not perform in the concert hall but rather at the Millenium Stage, the red carpeted indoor promenade of the Kennedy Center, where patrons mill around before the concert and the acoustics are not outstanding. What a place to perform Bach's Chaconne! I suppose that this was the quickest way to arrange the performance, which will be videotaped and made available on the Internet ( website http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/). If you are interested in hearing Liu play some of these pieces now, you can find them on violinmasterclass.com here. From Rita Livs
I've heard these pieces... Does he really play them on Lady Tennant???
Posted on June 14, 2005 at 02:26 PM From Jim W. Miller
Rita, you should go hear him tommorow. Sometimes I want to move to NY reallll bad.Posted on June 14, 2005 at 04:18 PM So Kurt Sassmannshaus from violin...com teaches at Cincinnati. A couple of my more musically enthused friends went there. The Cincinnati Orchestra is one of the greatest. From Pauline Lerner
Jim, I'm the one who considered going to the Kennedy Center tomorrow to hear him play. The Kennedy Center is in Washington, DC. I'd like to take a poll. Should or shouldn't I drop everything else on my schedule tomorrow to hear Liu play Bach's Chaconne on Lady Tennant?
Posted on June 14, 2005 at 05:40 PM From Jim W. Miller
Did you know Kennedy had a secretary named Lincoln, and Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy?
Posted on June 14, 2005 at 05:38 PM From Pauline Lerner
Jim, I think you'rer trying to confuse me.
Posted on June 15, 2005 at 03:01 AM From Jim W. Miller
Well I saw the word "Center" in this particular subject and automatically thought Lincoln. Ya goin?
Posted on June 15, 2005 at 03:22 AM From Claire Blaustein
I was at the Kennedy Center last night to hear Mr. Liu. The instruement is beautiful, but the space really didn't do it justice. Posted on June 16, 2005 at 12:50 PM There will be a review in the Washington Post in the next few days (probably Saturday). It'll explain the whole thing better. And the performance is probably up on the website today. From Pauline Lerner
I, too, heard the performance live. I've written about it in my blog, June 17. Please check it out.
Posted on June 17, 2005 at 03:53 PM From Bob L.
I feel seasick after watching his video, especially during the Chaconne.
Posted on June 21, 2005 at 01:10 PM From Grace Guo
I read the review I don't think I agree with her (the music critics). First of all, I felt it a bit odd to describe Chaconne "lovely", as it is a very demanding and heavy piece. Second of all, I felt the balance is pretty good especially this violin has great projection and tone. (She commented about the balance being a little off in Beethoven), let along Beethoven sonata should be an equal-partner between two players, or even the piano solo/violin accompaniment piece. Posted on June 23, 2005 at 03:23 AM Prokofiev's second movement is as good as she said, but I felt there are many more good things in other movements too. Like somebody said (forgot the name), you just have to hear it in person. On the other hand, she's right about (I just realize she's on the discussion too) the venue not doing any good for the acoustic, and is not at all an ideal venue for classical concert. From Pauline Lerner
Grace, where is the review? Is it online somewhere? I'd like to read it, too.
Posted on June 23, 2005 at 07:31 AM From Grace Guo
You can find it at Posted on June 23, 2005 at 03:17 PM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/16/AR2005061601341.html From Jim W. Miller
The author of the review is posting in this thread.
Posted on June 23, 2005 at 11:00 PM |
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