Listening to a $7.5 million dollar Stradivarius

We went off to the Glen Gould Theatre last Friday night  here in downtown Toronto, to hear the Via Salzburg Chamber Group play a small production called Time’s Arrow… Small production maybe but huge sound.  This was their 13th season at the Glen Gould.  Next  year they will be at the Rosedale United Church.

The first half of the production was music by Alexander Borodin ( 1833-1887) whom I know nothing of,  and consisted of four sections.  The second half was Ludwig Van Beethovens string quartet in four sections. (1770-1827).

Four musicians, lovely young ladies, two, once viola violins and one cello.  Magnificient music. Mayumi Seiler is the founder & artistic directeor of Via Salzburg. Apparently she is in great demand world wide as a violinist.  Her violin certainly sings.  Originally born in Japan of Japanese/German heritage  she has been wedded to her violin since 3 years of age.  It shows. She is currently based in Toronto  where she now resides permanently with her children.  She plays an exquisite J.B. Guadagnini violin circa 1740 due to  the assistance of a private benefactor.

But the real treat was to learn that one of the young ladies was Rachel Mercer playing a Stradvarius  Cello on loan to her for a few years from the Musical Instrument  Bank of Canada.

and here  are a couple of short sentences I grabbed from ther website explaining how they came about and how their selection process works.

” The Musical Instrument Bank was created to acquire quality stringed instruments. The instruments are loaned to gifted established professional musicians or young professional musicians about to embark on international solo or chamber music careers.

Today the collection numbers 15 magnificent instruments and bows – many of which are historically significant – all worth a total of over US $27 million. Luthier Ric Heinl and his team at Geo. Heinl & Co. Limited are responsible for the restoration and maintenance of the instruments.”

Apparently the musicians each get the instrument for a 3 year period at which point they must  enter the competition and compete again for an instrument.

If you would like to see a list of who won the last competition in 2009 here is the link . 2009 Competition

So we  had a chuckle at the thought of this young woman trying to leave with her Strad after announcing it’s appraised value from the stage… good thing events like this are a tiny bit stuffy and no one would dare think of doing anything.

The accoustics of the Glenn Gould theatre were fantastic and it is just such a beautiful studio to sit and listen in with comfy chairs and an open environment.  Such a thoroughly enjoyable way to pass a Friday evening.