A rare 300-year-old violin, once owned by legendary Italian composer Niccolò Paganini, will take center stage at the BBC Proms in London later this month.
The violin, known as the Carrodus, was crafted in 1743 by master Italian maker Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù in Cremona, northern Italy. Valued at $20 million, it is one of only about 150 of his instruments still in existence.
The instrument, loaned to South Korean violinist Inmo Yang by the Stretton Society—a philanthropic group that acquires rare instruments for top musicians—will be played publicly for the first time at the Royal Albert Hall on August 28.
“I can’t believe how lucky I am to have this instrument. It’s one of the greatest violins ever made,” Yang told AFP, expressing his sense of duty to preserve its legacy by keeping it in use rather than locked away in a museum.
Stephan Jansen, co-founder of the Stretton Society, described Yang as “one of the finest musicians of his generation,” noting the natural connection between artist and instrument.
Yang will perform Pablo de Sarasate’s Carmen Fantasy, highlighting the violin’s rich and unpredictable tones, which he said bring the fiery and playful spirit of the piece to life.
“Knowing Paganini once played this violin is almost spiritual,” Yang added.
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