Karol Lipinski

August 4, 2008 at 10:00 AM

On Saturday, I was invited to a recital at the home of my violin teacher. Together with Laszlo Petendi, a member of the Bamberg Symphony, he played some of his original compositions and some arrangements (listening examples available here).

Among the guests was an elderly gentleman who turned out to be the great-great-grandson of Karol Lipinski. Alexander Lipinski, a lively octogenarian, worked in his youth at a violin shop in his native East Prussia, taught himself to play the violin and has done that well enough that he could jam with Helmut Zacharias in the days before WW II.

Mr. Lipinski has invented a new, improved shape for the violin and Laszlo Petendi played one of the instruments built according to Mr. Lipinski's specifications by Walter Mahr of Bubenreuth. The violin was very beautiful, nicely carved and emitted a warm, rich and powerful sound under Laszlo's capable hands.

What an experience!

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