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María Dueñas is one of the most sought-after violinists in the world. She began her international career with the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra. Here you can hear her with her violin...
Violin
Violin or fiddle, what's the difference? There is no difference, both words refer to the string instrument with four strings that is most commonly found in a symphony orchestra. Sometimes the violin is also played solo by an artist, in which case it sounds particularly prominent and virtuoso...
Wood, four strings and a bow or: What makes a good violin
The first violins appeared in Italy in the early 16th century, when they were not held in high esteem by society (sometimes they are still referred to as fiddles today). This soon changed, however, when they were used in operas and became the leading instrument in classical music from the 18th century onwards. Even then, it had its present form and was played as such, with four strings (then made of gut, today mostly made of plastic) and a bow strung with horsehair. The most expensive and beautiful-sounding violins come from a few violin-making workshops whose names many people know: Stradivari, Guarneri, Amati. Today they are mostly played by famous soloists and are often worth several million. But of course you don't have to dig that deep into your pockets if you want to play a good instrument, and certainly not if you want to hear it, then all you have to do is get a concert ticket...
Violin!
The violin takes center stage almost every season. But this time especially, because our Artist in Residence is a violinist. Augustin Hadelich is one of the world's best on his instrument and will play violin concertos by the Englishman Benjamin Britten and the Russian Peter Tchaikovsky with the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra. Together with his piano partner Francesco Piemontesi, he will also show what the violin can do in small ensembles. But of course that's not all: in our chamber concerts, the violin can also be heard (almost) on its own, and we also have other soloists at the start: for example Maria Ioudenitch and Leila Josefowicz, both of whom are a real experience with their stage presence and expressiveness alone!