Fall destroys rare Stradivarius

News

Rob Hughes Feb 13 2008, 5:30pm

Restoration of 290-year-old instrument expected to take eight months

Eminent violinist David Garrett destroyed a priceless Stradivarius violin during a concert in London at Christmas, it has been revealed.

Garrett, 26, a soloist with the London Philharmonic orchestra by the age of ten, was distraught and likened the accident to "losing a dear friend". He explained to the London Evening Standard: "I fell down a flight of steps and on to the case. When I opened it the violin was in pieces."

The damaged violin is known as San Lorenzo and dates back to 1710. The instrument is due to spend the next eight months in a workshop, while specialists attempt to restore it to its former glory. The repair bill is expected to cost around £60,000, but a spokeswoman for the musician speculated that this could run into millions, with no guarantee that it was even possible.

To enable David to play at a special Valentines Day concert, London-based dealer, J&A Beare has offered the use of another Stradivarius, worth an estimated £2.5 million to the virtuoso musician. David Morris, director of J&A Beare was thrilled to be able to help Garrett and commented:

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“I know how difficult it is when you have to do a concert and you don’t have the instrument to do it with. There’s more demand than we can supply, so we can’t help everyone who comes through the door, but in this instance we could and we are delighted to be able to. We always help out whenever we can.”

Morris was significantly more confident about the repair of the San Lorenzo, and continued: “The instrument shouldn’t prove too difficult to restore. The craftsmen who undertake this kind of task are extremely capable – geniuses really – and its always easier to repair something like this when the damage has just happened, rather than later down the line, so it’s the best hands.”

Garrett declined to answer questions regarding the worth of the violin, only saying that he bought it "six or seven years ago", but the sale of a violin from the same Golden Period of Stradivarius, known as The Hammer (pictured) was sold for £1.8 million at auction in 2006.