Kia Motors secures Strad for Korean soloist
OrchestrasViolinist Clara-Jumi Kang has received the long-term use of the 1702 ‘Thunis’ Stradivarius, once owned by the widow of Eugène Ysaye.
The loan was made by Kia Motors, for whom Kang now acts as a Global Ambassador. She discovered the instrument on a visit to the London dealers Beare’s.
She is one of the most arrogant people I have ever met. Quiet and two faced- and that is exactly how she got the Strad.
From the web:
“…the 1702 “Thunis” Stradivari was once played by Jeanette Ysaÿe, widow of the famed virtuoso Eugène Ysaÿe.”
We should at least say her name instead leaving her as “the widow”.
True, but HER real name was Jean(n)ette DINCIN.
(Women were losing their identity on their wedding day in those times.)
And Dincin was a pupil not only of her husband Ysaÿe but also of Auer and Otakar Ševčík. And that is quite a pedigree for a violinist — so yes she deserves to have been named as a prior owner.
She’s a phenomenal violinist. It’s shocking that highlights of her season in North America are with Atlanta, Utah and Portland while she’s proven over and over that she should be performing with the top orchestras. Not even a summer festival performance. But hey, Ravinia hires Rachel Barton Pine and Desiree Ruhstrat instead. Hardly anything could say it more clearly than a vast majority of the violin sections looking down at their feet instead of clapping…
Those are all outstanding orchestras. As is any orchestra today that pays a living wage.
She now joins a number of artists who are able to perform on superb instruments they could never afford at this stage in their careers thanks to large corporations who have invested in fine instruments. These magnificent instruments need to be played and far better that they are loaned out than kept in a bank vault.
In Hong Kong some time ago, there used to be one of these ‘hoarders’ who had a number of Strads and other fine intruments which he did keep in bank vaults. Only occasionally did he lend one out, and only for specific concerts. When I met him at dinner one evening, I asked if he had purchased any more to add to what he called his “collection”. No, came the answer, the prices are now much too high. It was all I could do to stop myself saying, “That’s because people like you take them off the market and lock them away purely for investment purposes. That’s a disgrace!”
My experiences meeting her have been exactly the opposite. She has always been very gracious and friendly. And I’m not an important person in any way.
Fortunately, the audiences would not be able to tell a Strad from a $300 violin. It’s only when you KNOW it’s a Strad that your brain tells you it sounds better.
Having said that, Anne Akiko Meyers’ “world’s most expensive violin”, paid for by her CEO husband, could not salvage her career.
I heard her play Brahms violin concerto no. 1 in Perth, Western Australia last night, arrived late and knew nothing about her. I was amazed at the quality of the sound she was producing, only found out it was a Strad after the performance.