NZSO’s ‘miracle’: Playing a 269-year-old violin
A 269-year-old violin is staying alive in the hands of New Zealand Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Vesa-Matti Leppänen.
The violin was made by 18th-century string instrument maker Möller G B Guadagnini in 1755 and was bought by the NZSO Foundation last year.
“If you start imagining where it’s been, Italy first and then all over the world, through two world wars, it’s seen a lot,” Leppänen said.
“It’s sort of a miracle that this little box of wood actually lasts so long.”
Leppänen, who played the violin since he was 5 years old and was appointed concertmaster of NZSO in 2002, said he was lucky enough to have already played a violin made in 1692. But having an instrument like the Guadagnini was “amazing” and “the best thing a musician can have really”, he said.
The golden era of violins were made between about 1720 and 1760, he said. Modern luthiers made violins based on that era and very little had changed in terms of design. “Since then, everyone’s just been trying to copy that so this is one of those instruments.”
The quality and workmanship was special, and also the condition of it. Leppänen didn’t think there were many more than 100 playable Guadagnini violins left.
They got better with age – like some wine, as long as they continued to be played and were taken care of, he said. The vibration in the wood, created when playing the instrument, was like stretching and exercising.
“They just get better as long as you’re playing them and taking care of them,” he said.
“I think it’s a bit of a mystery ... [but] the wood stays alive in a funny way.”
The flexibility and the sound of the 269-yearold violin were vast with dynamic ranges. “It just has more colours,” Leppänen said. The quality of the sound stayed the same whether it was played really quiet or loud. Playing with a specific violin required building a relationship with it and the more someone played it, the more it taught them its limits – if there were any.
“The violin just keeps showing me what’s possible instead of me trying to make it sound better,” Leppänen said. “It’s a wonderment every time I open the case.”
NZSO board chairperson Ainsley Walter made a donation to the foundation that covered half the cost of the violin, bought from previous owner Sir Michael Hill.
Walter said she wanted a legacy gift for the NZSO, which would endure and inspire.
“Every time I now hear the Guadagnini, its extraordinary sound reminds me that it was built by a master and has been lovingly maintained and played for nearly three centuries.
“I look forward to the NZSO continuing to bring life to this instrument.”
The purchase price was confidential but other Guadagnini violins had been auctioned for more than $2 million.
The next show in Wellington would be on April 5 at the Michael Fowler Centre with principal conductor Gemma New joining the NZSO to conduct Mahler’s 5th symphony.
The NZSO Foundation also launched an online auction on Thursday, running until March 28, to fundraise for the NZSO to be able to buy more instruments.