The loan was facilitated by J & A Beare and the Stretton Society following a four year search for the perfect violin
Norwegian violinist Vilde Frang will be loaned the 1734 ‘Rode’ Guarneri ’del Gesù’ violin. The project was facilitated by Steven Smith of violin dealers J & A Beare and Stephan Jansen, co-founder of the Stretton Society, a private philanthropic club that supports classical music and musicians through various stringed instruments and platforms.
Frang commented: ’Words cannot describe what a milestone the discovery of the ‘Rode’ Guarneri has been for me. Having had the privilege to explore an incredible selection of instruments recommended by J & A Beare in search of the right instrument, the ‘Rode’ happens to be the violin of my dreams. Thanks to them, and to the incredible generosity of the Stretton Society who have secured the long-term loan, I feel truly blessed that I am able to keep on playing on it! My joy and gratitude are expanding every day.’
The violin has an illustrious history, having been played in the past by celebrated virtuosi such as Pierre Rode, Norbert Brainin and Kyung Wha Chung.
Norwegian-born Vilde Frang has studied with Kolya Blacher at Musikhochschule Hamburg and Ana Chumachenco at the Kronberg Academy. She debuted as a soloist at the age of 12 with the Oslo Philarmonic Orchestra and went on to win a scholarship at the Annie-Sophie Mutter Foundation. Her recent and forthcoming solo engagements include performances with Berlin Philarmonic, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, London Symphony, Concertgebouw Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philarmonic, Israel Philarmonic, Sydney Symphony.. Frang has won numerous awards including the Grand Prix du Disque, Edison Klassiek Award, Deutsche Schallplattenpreis, Diapason d’Or and Gramophone Award.
Watch: Vilde Frang plays Paganini and Schubert
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Read: Arabella Steinbacher to play on 1718 ‘Benno Walter’ Stradivari
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