Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù: the ‘Baltic’ of c. 1731

Tarisio will present the 'Baltic' Guarneri del Gesù at auction on March 16, 2023. It has been over thirty years since a Guarneri of this quality has come to auction. Original in all parts, made of exemplary tonewood, in excellent condition and covered in a stunning, deep red-brown varnish-the 'Baltic' is breathtaking. Learn more at tarisio.com/baltic.

[@seanhallahan14]

Beautiful done! Thank you so much!

[@user-sw6ej8ci7o]

I had the good-AND BAD-fortune to play on the Baltic for two weeks back in the early 1970s. I kid you not that I seriously thought of running away with the instrument.* It was so perfect and pure that it made my violin sound like it was an opera singer with a cold. When I say that it was BAD FORTUNE to play on it was because it waa devastating to have to return to my violin, and I was never satisfied with another instrument in my entire career. In short, I just suffered and "got by." When you tell this sort of thing to a modern maker, they don't want to believe it. When you tell it to a lot of younger players, they can't even imagine what you are talking about. When you talk to very fine violinists who have owned great instruments for a long time, they will say things like, "I've had my ___________for thirty years and I"m still finding new things I can do with it." When the violin-making community eventually figures this out, it will be a great day for the poor violinists who have to put up with only passably useful tools. It certainly IS true, however, that all Stradivari and Guarneri violins are not of this calibre. And a few modern makers are getting close. I'm wishful but not hopeful. * BTW, in an episode of "Northern Exposure" a young violinist runs away with a Guarneri violin. It had nothing to do with my personal experience; purely coincidental.

[@atletasedentario2945]

Thanks for the story, hearing it from a professional sure shows the difference and that this is not a legend. About the violins that are approaching... where are they from? Who are the luthiers?

[@srinitaaigaura]

The reason is you need to maintain and play the best music on a violin for over a hundred years before it opens up and resonates more and more at those pitches. The woods used were extremely old in them too. The secret no one says is right in plain sight - time.

[@kishascape]

Is already been done, I mean anyone with half a brain could see that statement is ignorant. We've far exceeded 1600s Luther technology and there have been many superior violins for 150 years now. It's even been confirmed in blind tests that the Stradivarius is just a placebo and there's no actual difference other than the status symbol.

[@angryjalapeno]

@@kishascape it's a Guarneri not a Stradivarius.

[@tomsmart1970]

@@srinitaaigaura I think the age thing is mostly folklore, and that a violin "opens up" (whatever that means) more in the first 10 years than it does in the next 300. I've played violins completed in the last few months or years that sound and feel more "open" than others that are extremely old. Every violin has its own personality. The "secret" of Guarneri is that he made some very good and innovative instruments, not that he made them a long time ago. No doubt they were great instruments back when they were new. There are contemporary makers who are doing exceptionally good work at a far more affordable price. I suspect that bench copies are often passing as the real thing on concert stages.

[@chrisebbesen5798]

Thank you, who bought the Baltic?

[@osiasgomes6904]

Foi o primeiro a fábrica o violino

[@williamkauffman5745]

it is a fine violin, of the first mark; I play an antique, exact replica of the Baltic

[@patriciajrs46]

Why does everybody ( violin player) have to play that piece? Yes, it shows off note clarity and tone quality of the instrument and profeciency of the soloist, but there are many others that could do the same thing.

[@stephanebelizaire3627]

Yes indeed, any Handel or Bach sonata would be very good.

[@kliop00023]

it attract more guesses lol

[@kishascape]

​@@stephanebelizaire3627they can't Handel it

[@josefIL]

Marketing... Pumping up the price

[@simon-oy6um]

It sounds like a bouquet of fresh mixed flowers

[@zzp1]

@user-sw6ej8ci7o I had the instrument in my hands, it was for sale around 2005 for about 5 million USD. It had an incredible sound and I fully understand your awe. I have still the full specs of this instruments, made around the end of Guareneri's golden era. And no, it is not original in all parts.

[@Skinny_Karlos]

Were I independently wealthy, it'd be mine !!

[@patriciajrs46]

Also, Amati'a sons were prominemt in that time frame. I've never heard of Bergonsi. Are there many of his violins still existing today?

[@user-sw6ej8ci7o]

There was a Bergonzi family, which included The master, Carlo; then his sons and grandsons Michel Angelo, and Nicolo, (plus a couple of others). Carlo is sort of the Vermeer of violin makers, having made only very few instruments, but they are masterpieces. I believe, without unpacking my books, that there are only about 25 around-this compared to 600-700 Stradivari. Within the last few years there was an exhibit in Cremona and a book published with very good photos.

[@serafin1719]

And there are two cellos of smaller frame. I played one of them and due to its smaller size it didn’t have the biggest sound, but beautiful!

[@НаталияФедоровна-ц6в]

Какой. Звук.. Мастер. Знал. Какой-то. Секрет... 😮...

[@tullochgorum6323]

It sold for $9.44 million, which was a bit short of the $10 million estimate.

[@osiasgomes6904]

Ninguém fala do Andrea amati foi o pioneiro no violino

[@joelssantos3033]

Magnífico som fantástico ❤❤❤

[@10coolfacts]

Beautiful instrument, beautiful players, and beautiful presentation. Someday I hope to play an instrument of this caliber. Even once or twice in my life, and I could die a happy man.

[@stephanebelizaire3627]

Very Instructive, Bravo !

[@liamnevilleviolist1809]

1:31.... is that a massive crack on the bass side??

[@antoniopelcastre4296]

No; is the reflection of the string on varnish

[@liamnevilleviolist1809]

Another quite-high bow hold.... are we slowly creeping back into the Baroque hold?

[@mariaschwartz447]

How did the original jewish owner loose ownership? He escaped persecution and carried it with him.

[@simon-oy6um]

Iv'e said before ìts not just the instrument its the player that can make it sing and love it 😊

[@clivemossmoon3611]

Thanks for talking over the music. Great decision. 👍

[@simon-oy6um]

Sweet and mellow 😊

[@simon-oy6um]

Sound so sweet full of colour😊😊

[@fernandomarcondescorrea8495]

🎻🎼🎵🎶🔝

[@athan4752]

I’ll take two.

[@kaavest]

what is the name on the first piece she play?Thnx

[@alisekeita3921]

Tchaikovsky violin concerto if im not mistaken

[@user-pw3tr1xg2x]

From the first movement of the Tchaikovsky Concerto.

[@Cat-ls1jr]

What piece is Stella playing?

[@powerflower6727]

„The Lark Ascending“ by Ralph Vaughan Williams

[@MrItalianviolin]

​ I think it is a Butterfly Concerto. Actually Sounds very similar..