Symphony Violinist Plays 300-year-old Strad for These Days

KPBS | By KPBS Public Broadcasting

Published January 13, 2009 at 6:30 AM PST

The San Diego Symphony celebrates the 300th birthday of the Sir Bagshawe Stradivarius with a special concert. We'll talk with the Symphony's music director, Jahja Ling about the history of this rare

Maureen Cavanaugh : To string musicians it is known and revered simply as the "Strad." The violins created by 18th century instrument maker Antonio Stradivari not only set a standard of excellence for the construction of stringed instruments, but many believe, those instruments remain unsurpassed today in quality and tone.

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One Stradivarius violin is about to celebrate its 300th birthday and it is in the studio with us today.

The San Diego Symphony will host a special concert in honor of the 300th birthday of the Sir Bagshawe Stradivarius on Wednesday, January 14, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. The Symphony's Beethoven Festival continues through Sunday, January 18, 2009.

Guests

Jahja Ling , music director and conductor of the San Diego Symphony.
Jeff Thayer , violinist and concertmaster of the San Diego Symphony.