Kiesewetter Stradivarius
Encyclopedia
The Kiesewetter Stradivarius of circa 1723 is an antique violin
fabricated by Italian luthier
Antonio Stradivari
of Cremona
(1644–1737). The instrument derives its name from its previous owner, German composer
and violinist Christophe Gottfried Kiesewetter (1777–1827).
In 2006, the Stradivari Society
brokered an agreement between Clement and Karen Arrison, current owners of the Kiesewetter, and a Grammy-nominated Russian violinist, Philippe Quint
. Stipulated in the contract, Quint is to retain possession of the violin for one year in exchange for its US$
6,000 insurance premium, the performance of three private recitals for the Arrisons, and regular inspections by The Society's curators. Its latest valuation was US$4 million. The contract was renewed for a second year in May 2007.
On 20 April 2008, Quint accidentally left the Kiesewetter in the back of a taxicab
in New York City
. After numerous phone calls, the violin was found and returned to Quint the next day. The cabdriver, Mohamed Khalil, was presented with a medallion by the City of Newark
, the highest honour awarded by the city.
Since August 2010, Augustin Hadelich
has been playing the Kiesewetter on extended loan from the Arrisons through The Stradivari Society.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
fabricated by Italian luthier
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
Antonio Stradivari
Antonio Stradivari
Antonio Stradivari was an Italian luthier and a crafter of string instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars, violas, and harps. Stradivari is generally considered the most significant artisan in this field. The Latinized form of his surname, Stradivarius, as well as the colloquial, "Strad", is...
of Cremona
Cremona
Cremona is a city and comune in northern Italy, situated in Lombardy, on the left bank of the Po River in the middle of the Pianura Padana . It is the capital of the province of Cremona and the seat of the local City and Province governments...
(1644–1737). The instrument derives its name from its previous owner, German composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and violinist Christophe Gottfried Kiesewetter (1777–1827).
In 2006, the Stradivari Society
Stradivari Society
The Stradivari Society is a philanthropic organization based in Chicago, Illinois, best known for its arranging deals between owners of antique string instruments such as those made by luthiers Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri, for use by talented musicians and performers...
brokered an agreement between Clement and Karen Arrison, current owners of the Kiesewetter, and a Grammy-nominated Russian violinist, Philippe Quint
Philippe Quint
-Biography:Quint, whose surname is of Italian origin, was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. He studied at Moscow's Special Music School for the Gifted with Russian violinist Andrei Korsakov and made his orchestral debut at the age of nine. After emigrating to the United States in 1991, he earned both...
. Stipulated in the contract, Quint is to retain possession of the violin for one year in exchange for its US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
6,000 insurance premium, the performance of three private recitals for the Arrisons, and regular inspections by The Society's curators. Its latest valuation was US$4 million. The contract was renewed for a second year in May 2007.
On 20 April 2008, Quint accidentally left the Kiesewetter in the back of a taxicab
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. After numerous phone calls, the violin was found and returned to Quint the next day. The cabdriver, Mohamed Khalil, was presented with a medallion by the City of Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, the highest honour awarded by the city.
Since August 2010, Augustin Hadelich
Augustin Hadelich
Augustin Hadelich is a German violinist and winner of the 2009 Avery Fisher Grant. He was also the gold medallist of the 2006 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis...
has been playing the Kiesewetter on extended loan from the Arrisons through The Stradivari Society.
Provenance
- Christoph G. Kiesewetter
- Francis Goldschmidt
- Charles Fletcher of Bournemouth (ca. 1800)
- Gary Hart (ca. 1902)
- Henry Osborne Havemeyer (1905)
- Horace Havemeyer (1907)
- Rembert Wurtlitzer Inc. (1953)
- Dr. Jerome Gross (ca. 1960)
- Howard Gottieb (1972)
- J. & A. Beare (1986)
- Clement and Karen Arrison (ca. 2000)