Violinist Ray Chen acquires a Strad

Read more news articles here

’I’ve got a new companion!’ proclaimed violinist Ray Chen on a social media video post. Chen has acquired the 1714 ’Dolphin, ex-Heifetz’ Stradivari violin, courtesy of the Nippon Music Foundation.

’This instrument and I are going to be musical partners for the next few years,’ commented Chen. The violin was played by Jascha Heifetz from 1950 to 1965. According to Tarisio, the owner in the late 1800s, George Hart, named the violin ’Dolphin’ due to the violin’s striking appearance and colour of its back.

The instrument is considered one of the top three violins made by Stradivari, along with the 1715 ’Alard’ and 1716 ’Messiah’. Chen has previously played on the 1715 ‘Joachim’ Stradivari violin, also on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation