Anne-Sophie Mutter: The violin lies best on bare flesh

The German violinist has given a fascinating interview in Prague to our Czech partners, operaplus. She talks about her childhood when she went a year without a teacher, about the development of her technique and about how to hold the violin.

‘I began with a Menuhin support but was never happy with it,’ she says. ‘I went from a small pillow to a smaller one, then to a deerskin that stops the violin slipping. Then I came up with a brilliant idea that works best for women. Just lay the violin on your naked skin.

‘There’s a bit of moisture to hold it there. For me personally that’s ideal. But not for everyone. It depends on the length of your neck.’

Watch. Lovely German expressions (with English and Czech subtitles).