The Nippon Music Foundation presents a video excerpt of a performance from violinist Ray Chen on 9 August 2023. It took place at Blue Rose, Suntory Hall in Tokyo.

Before embarking on his encore of Schön Rosmarin by Kreisler, with pianist Takashi Sato, Chen speaks candidly about his violin, the 1714 ‘Dolphin’ Stradivari, loaned to him from the Nippon Music Foundation. The violin previously belonged to the legendary violinist Jascha Heifetz, to which Chen felt a little intimidated.

‘I was thinking, “Am I good enough?”’

Fun fact: the violinists Kreisler and Heifetz share the same birthday! They were born on 2 February in 1875 and 1901 respectively.

Read: Violinist Ray Chen acquires a Strad

Read: Ray Chen: ‘Practising with others pushes you to improve’

Read: Heifetz as teacher: Words from the master

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