Norman Clark Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 Can't remember the last time I posted here, but check in most every day to stay current with the discussions -- and debates. I have had the opportunity to watch the Greek violinist Kavakos 3 times in the last couple years. First in Amsterdam, then in Seattle and last at the Hollywood Bowl. First time I was actually reminded of Groucho Marx, ---that is until he started playing. He is an incredible talent. This however is about his violin. As a player, I am aware that much of what comes out of an instrument is based upon the effort and ability of the player, but it seems (taking nothing away from the artist) that his violin is above and beyond most anything I have ever listened to, and I have played in major orchestras, accompanying great artists for several years. The program notes at one concert indicate the instrument is a Strad, but said nothing more about it. My curiosity is off the scale. Do any of you know the history of his Strad? Has it been re-graduated in modern times, or adjusted by some genius? Perhaps a blue tooth microphone under the bridge? Norm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guadagnini1 Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 Deleted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melvin Goldsmith Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 Kavakos played the 1692 Earl of Falmouth 'long pattern' Strad from 1996 onwards according to cozio.com. I am not sure if he is still using it but it allows him to make an awesome sound in recordings I have heard. Edit. Acording to Wikipedia..... 'Kavakos plays the "Abergavenny" Stradivarius of 1724 from February 2010. He has sold the "Falmouth" Stradivarius of 1692, and a 1782 violin by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini (Torino). Kavakos now owns only the Abergavenny and three modern violins (as of September 4, 2010).' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tets Kimura Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 I didn't know he was playing on "Abergavenny" now. When I met him in 2009, he was still playing on the Guadagnini, but he told me he loved later Strads, and said something along the line of "I'd love to get one." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 IIRC, there was an article about Kavakos in The Strad last year. It was written that he had recently switched to the 1782 Guadagnini. A few days back I watched him playing Beethoven's violin concert; the concert was part of the "Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival" and was broadcasted by the German TV. Fortunately, the whole concert is on youtube! Note that it is a very recent recording (July 10th, 2011). The violin looks rather like a Strad than a late Guad to me.... The violin can be seen quite well at 5:40 in the Rondo. And yes, He sounds absolutely fantastic! I love that dark sound! Roland EDIT: Here is a screen shot: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobsaunders Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 IIRC, there was an article about Kavakos in The Strad last year. It was written that he had recently switched to the 1782 Guadagnini. A few days back I watched him playing Beethoven's violin concert; the concert was part of the "Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival" and was broadcasted by the German TV. Fortunately, the whole concert is on youtube! Note that it is a very recent recording (July 10th, 2011). The violin looks rather like a Strad than a late Guad to me.... The violin can be seen quite well at 5:40 in the Rondo. And yes, He sounds absolutely fantastic! I love that dark sound! Roland EDIT: Here is a screen shot: I wouldn't like to speculate on that "screen shot", from apperance it could just as well be a Ladislaw Prokop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 I wouldn't like to speculate on that "screen shot", from apperance it could just as well be a Ladislaw Prokop And yet another famous violin maker comes into play! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actonern Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 Thanks for posting that link... I really need to get out more... his playing is truly exceptional. Aside from everything else, I really like his rubato style in the Beethoven... very tastefully done, without the sentimental excess often heard in this piece. E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobsaunders Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 And yet another famous violin maker comes into play! Yes, perhaps this "Greek debt crisis" business is more serious than we think! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 Yes, perhaps this "Greek debt crisis" business is more serious than we think! Right, I hope the crisis won't tempt him to pass off his Prokop as a Strad -- we don't need another Machold-like thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Stross Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 Thanks for posting that link... I really need to get out more... his playing is truly exceptional. Aside from everything else, I really like his rubato style in the Beethoven... very tastefully done, without the sentimental excess often heard in this piece. E My respectful advice to you would be to listen really careful to renditions of Beethoven by Kreisler, Enesco, Szeryng, Grumieux, Ferras and from the moderns, Isabelle Faust. And, by the way, Beethoven was an excessive sentimental. Quie mad, you know... And that's about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~ Ben Conover Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 Some nice instruments here : Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scordatura Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 My respectful advice to you would be to listen really careful to renditions of Beethoven by Kreisler, Enesco, Szeryng, Grumieux, Ferras and from the moderns, Isabelle Faust. And, by the way, Beethoven was an excessive sentimental. Quie mad, you know... And that's about it. Ditto on Szeryng and Kreisler! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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