RonJonSurfer Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 Violinist: Fall fractures $1M fiddle By THOMAS WAGNER, Associated Press Writer LONDON - Can his fractured fiddle — a million dollar Guadagnini — be fixed? It's too early to tell. David Garrett, a former model who has been called the David Beckham of the classical scene, said he tripped while carrying his 18th century violin as he was leaving London's Barbican Hall after a performance, smashing it to bits. "I had it over my shoulder in its case and I fell down a concrete flight of stairs backward," Garrett said Thursday. "When I opened the case, much of my G.B. Guadagnini had been crushed." Garrett said he bought the 1772 violin for $1 million in 2003, and he is now hoping to get it repaired in New York, where he is based. "I hope and pray that it can be fixed, but if it can't, I hope my insurance policy will let me buy another great violin," the 26-year-old musician said. He told The Associated Press that other published accounts saying the violin was a Stradivarius were incorrect. Guadagnini is believed by some to have been a student of Antonio Stradivari. The accident occurred Dec. 27 but only came to light this week when he returned to London for another concert at the Barbican and told British reporters what had happened. For his Valentine's Day concert there, he is playing a Stradivarius that's been loaned to him. Garrett gained attention as a child prodigy. Before he was 10, he played as a soloist with the London Philharmonic, according to his Web site. When he studied at the Juilliard School in New York, he became a parttime model to help supplement his income. ___ On the Net: http://www.david-garrett.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLizard Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 Yikes, I think I'd cry if my violin broke, and it was only $500. I think if I broke a million dollar violin, my heart would stop out of misery. Then again.... he is playing a Stradivarius that's been loaned to him. Not a bad trade-off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foolonthehill Posted February 21, 2008 Report Share Posted February 21, 2008 wow... how did that happen in the case? with a good case you should be able to drop it down stairs with nothing more than minor scratches... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Baloni Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 Haha, I think he landed on it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLizard Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 Still, I could probably jump on my case (I wouldn't, but...) and there wouldn't be any damage inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levis Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 Maybe he wasn't carrying it in a case and just said that so people don't go ":doh: he carried a fiddle like that around without a case?!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLizard Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 That's a good point, because that would definitely have been my reaction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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