The 17-year-old says he is ’thrilled to bring the voice of this extraordinary instrument to life’
The 17-year-old Austrian violinst Leonhard Baumgartner has been loaned the 1683 ‘ex Petherick’ Stradivari violin by the Stretton Society. In a social media post, the violinist said about the loan: ’I am beyond excited to share that this beautiful and very fine Antonio Stradivari violin (1683, ‘Petherick’) will now be, as I like to call it, my “new musical home”. This incredible opportunity has been made possible through the generous support and loan from the wonderful Stretton Society.
’I am truly thrilled to bring the voice of this extraordinary instrument to life in upcoming concerts in some of the most beautiful halls. I look forward to exploring its depths and unlocking the full potential of its soul in the years ahead.’
The 1683 ’ex Petherick’ Stradivari features a golden-yellow varnish, a one-piece back made of handsome maple and a top of medium even grain. It was owned by George Hart, until in 1900 it was passed on to Horace Petherick, a writer, illustrator and violin expert. The violin has not been played for 70 years.
Born in Vienna in 2007, Baumgartner is a laureate of several international competitions, including first prize and special prize at the 2024 Ilona Fehér International Violin Competition, first prize at the Zhuhai International Mozart Competition and first prize, Grand Prix and Audience Award at the Osaka International Music Competition.
The violinist currently studies with Dora Schwarzberg at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and is also a student of Ingolf Turban, with earlier studies under Regina Brandstaetter. He is a scholar of the Music Academy Liechtenstein, and frequently performs in concerts with the Liechtenstein Symphony Orchestra and Ensemble Esperanza.
Baumgartner made his debut performance with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra at 15 years old and has since appeared as a soloist with orchestras such as NFM Wrocław Philharmonic, Berlin Baroque Soloists, Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn and Norwegian Radio Orchestra. In October 2024 Baumgartner played first violin in Deutsche Grammophon’s world premiere recording of Mozart’s newly discovered Serenade in C major Ganz kleine Nachtmusik K648 recorded in Salzburg.
The Stretton Society was founded in 2021 by Stephan Jansen, Maximillian von Schierstädt and Johannes Freiherr von Salmuth. It brings together a network of philanthropists in the goal of loaning leading and rising artists fine instruments by makers such as Stradivari and Guarneri ‘del Gesù’. Notable string players playing on Stretton Society instruments include violinist Vilde Frang and cellist Pablo Ferrández.
Read: Yasuko Ohtani loaned 1702 ‘Lord Newlands’ Stradivari violin
Read: 17-year-old violinist Leonhard Baumgartner signs to Harrison Parrott
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