In the world of concert performances, the name Giuseppe Guarneri, still commands respect. The master craftsman of the 18th century is credited with creating some of the most exquisite violins. So anyone who claims to own an original Guarneri creation can consider himself both lucky and wealthy. Now it’s your time to get lucky and probably lose a bit of your wealth, as one of the last violins made by Vieuxtemps Guarneri has been put up for sale in Chicago. Made in 1741, three years before the craftsman’s death, this violin is dubbed the Vieuxtemps Guarneri after the 19th-century violinist Henri Vieuxtemps. The Vieuxtemps Guarneri is being offered for sale by one of the world’s leading traders in rare violins, Bein & Fushi. And the asking price for this rare violin is a cool $18 million, making it the most expensive musical instrument in the world.
The instrument is said to be one of the most unusual creations from Guarneri and is larger than most violins and boasts of enormous projection. The violin has been played in concert halls worldwide by some of the greatest virtuosi of its 269-year existence, including Henri Vieuxtemps.
Peter Quint, a soloist who has been lucky to have performed on the Vieuxtemps several times with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, says, “This instrument has the most unbelievable power, not just in loudness but in sound quality. It has a huge palate of colors that allow you to express a wider range of emotions.” The Vieuxtemps Guarneri is expected to go to a museum or hedge fund, or another institutional collector. Reportedly the violin has generated a lot of interest across the world, but only time will tell who will be the new owner of this world’s most expensive instrument.
Via – [NYTimes]
[Guardian]
