In this episode, we dive into the mysterious and brilliant world of Giuseppe Guarneri “del Gesù”, one of history’s most revered violin makers. Often overshadowed by Stradivari, del Gesù was doing his own thing creating violins that have raw power, and emotional depth—qualities that still captivate players and collectors nearly three centuries later. We’ll explore his fascinating life in 18th-century Cremona, the distinctive features that set his instruments apart, and the myths that surround his work. Then, I sit down with Joe Bein of Bein and Company rare violins, one of the world’s leading experts and dealers in fine string instruments, to unpack what makes a Guarneri violin so extraordinary—and why musicians from Paganini to today’s great soloists remain spellbound by them. Whether you’re a violinist, a luthier, or simply a lover of classical music’s deep craftsmanship, this episode offers a rare look into the genius and mystery of Guarneri del Gesù. And for my amazing Patreon listeners Peter Biddulph tells his intriguing story of a very important archival discovery that rocked the violin making world and we discuss a Stradivari that perhaps you never knew existed! Listen now to discover the passion, artistry, and intrigue behind some of the most powerful violins ever made. Transcript Joe Bein You know, there is something, in my experience, I think there is something primal about players when they get around. Del Gesus. And of course, we're basically just talking about violinists, but there's an excitement and there's a, I don't know, it just feels like there's a, there's something, like Stradivari of course has this regal element to it, and it's like, it's so perfect and beautiful and usually more symmetrical. And then you get to a Del Gesu and it's just this like, I don't know, it's like, it's like the wild child or it's like the, the one you're, I don't know. You're not supposed to like, but you really do. And obviously like there's this dark. Powerful sound that I think is associated with his best instruments that is just like intoxicating. And that was the delight for Joe Bein of Bein and company rare violins in Chicago. We'll be having the pleasure of hearing more from this superbly loquacious individual later on. So don't fall off the edge of your seats just yet. He'll be back. Welcome to the Violin Chronicles, a show dedicated to the story of history's greatest violin makers. Now, this season, we are diving into the life of one of the most mysterious and fascinating figures in violin making history, really. And his name is Giuseppe Guarneri Del Gesu. Hello, I'm Linda Lespets, a violin maker based in Sydney, Australia. And together with my husband Antoine, we run a workshop where many remarkable instruments pass through our hands. And here I'll be sharing the stories behind the people who created these beautiful works of craftsmanship. It really is exciting to finally be talking about Bartoloemo Giuseppe Guarneri. Now, by this time, we've already looked at 200 years of violin making, starting with Andrea Amati. Now, Andrea Amati laid down the foundations of modern violin making, and yet just two doors down from the Amati home in which Gerolamo Amati the second was living. The Guarneri family continued to follow many of the same methods Andrea Amati had pioneered keeping the cremonese tradition alive with other violin makers around town of course. So in this series, I'll be joined by some incredible guests, the renowned expert, Peter Biddulph who will share a story of a landmark discovery connected to the Guarneris, or sort of thanks to the Guarneris. You'll hear it's a very cool story. And I also speak to the expert, Joe Bein, whose deep knowledge of Del Gesu's instruments offer rare insight into the maker's genius, if you will. This European summer, I happen to be in France and I spoke to Jonathan Marolle from the French maison Vatelot Rampal who will help us explore just how the French played an unexpected role in the cementing of Del Gesu’s fame. And it gets pretty philosophical if I do say so myself. But come with me. And together we will unravel the enigma of Giuseppe Guarneri Del Gesu. Can we separate the man from the myth? You know, in rumours sometimes there is a grain of truth. What are the truths that we can find in these rumours of Guarneri Del Gesu and what lies behind the legend? So stay tuned, and by the end it will all start making a little bit more sense. Trust me. And just quickly before we start, I would like to thank this episodes sponsor Florian Leonhard, fine Violins and in particular his new book coming out on Guarneri Del Gesu called The Archetypal Violins of Giuseppe Guarneri Del Gesu. In the year 1698, Andrea Guarneri is 75 years old and no longer a young man. His son, Giuseppe, is making most of the instruments in the workshop these days. And quite frankly, Andrea is tired. His wife died three years ago and things had never ...
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23 min