Golden Oldies

Violinist Jaime Laredo conducts the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra as part of ‘Bach Festival 2003.’

By: Susan Van Dongen

"image"

Jaime
Laredo 


Violinist Jaime Laredo’s "baby" is 286 years old and growing
more youthful and vibrant every day.
   Mr. Laredo’s pride and joy is an antique violin, crafted by
Italian master Antonio Stradivari in 1717. That means Mr. Laredo has owned the
Strad for little more than one-tenth of its life. Interestingly, though, he encountered
the rare instrument when he was just a boy. He says the violin was owned by an
upper-class French family for much of its life, but then found its way into the
hands of California banking magnate Samuel Crocker. Growing up in San Francisco,
Mr. Laredo didn’t know how close his future love "lived" — just across the
state in Sacramento.
   "Samuel Crocker owned a quartet of string instruments," Mr.
Laredo says, speaking from his home in Vermont. "I remember he kept them in a
glass case in the Crocker Art Gallery in Sacramento.
   "What’s really ironic, though, is that I played my first recital
at the very same gallery when I was 8 years old," he continues. "It was in a ballroom,
adjacent to the case where the instruments were. I have a vague recollection of
seeing them and being told that these were four very famous instruments. Little
did I know that one of those would someday be mine."
   Mr. Laredo will be on hand with his "baby" to help the New Jersey
Symphony Orchestra celebrate its acquisition of a family of exquisite antique
instruments. The NJSO has recently obtained 30 rare Italian string instruments
— violins, celli and violas. Between June 1-8, as part of the NJSO’s Bach
Festival 2003, a combination of orchestral, chamber and solo concerts will
highlight the group’s magnificent new "Golden Age Collection."
   Concerts and special talks will be held throughout Central and
North Jersey, beginning with a program at NJPAC in Newark June 1 featuring Mr.
Laredo as a soloist, as a chamber player with the Brandenburg Ensemble and conducting
the full orchestra in Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D Major. The concert also
will be held at Richardson Auditorium on the Princeton University campus June
5.
   "I was very excited when I heard this would be the official
first concert with these instruments," he says. "It makes sense, though, because
I am the proud owner of a very beautiful Stradivarius. For my violin to join this
incredible group of instruments will be a special experience. We’re planning to
do the ‘Third Brandenburg Concerto’ with just one person to a part, so you’ll
really be able to hear each instrument."
   The NJSO purchased the 30 antique instruments in February from
Herbert and Evelyn Axelrod. According to the NJSO’s Philip Leininger, the group
is the only orchestra in the world to own such an extensive collection of Italian
string instruments from the 17th and 18th centuries.
   "Other ensembles may have a similar number of instruments within
their ranks, but these instruments are owned or have been loaned to the orchestra
by individual collectors," Mr. Leininger says.
   Mr. Laredo’s violin was crafted in the middle of what is known
as Stradivarius’ "Golden Period," between 1712 and 1719, when it is said that
he made his very best violins.
   There’s a bit of a haunting story behind Mr. Laredo’s instrument,
as well. The violin had been in the protective case at the Crocker Gallery for
some 40 years, which was good because it didn’t suffer any exterior damage.
   However, like a prisoner silenced and isolated from the human
race, the instrument had lost some of its personality and voice.
   "These instruments need to be played," he says. "When
a dealer first showed it to me, I played a few notes and fell in love with the
sound but I knew there was something wrong. I took it to a wonderful (violin artisan
and repairman) who assured me that as I played on it, the sound would just keep
opening up. It took about a year, but sure enough, I would find that the violin
loosened up almost constantly."
   Mr. Laredo muses that his violin, as well as many of the instruments
in the NJSO’s collection, were "alive" when Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven were also
living. Just thinking about that aspect alone could inspire a musician to pull
magical things from a Stradivarius.
   "Although a really fine musician will sound like him or herself
on any instrument, it affects your playing to play on a magnificent instrument,"
he says. "The shadings, the colors and the subtleties you can produce are vastly
superior on a great instrument. It’s truly a tremendous help."
   Many instrumentalists — even the most famous — still
borrow their precious instruments from philanthropic collectors. Mr. Laredo reflects
that he might not be able to afford his Stradivarius if he had to buy it today.
   "Fortunately, I acquired it a long time ago, in 1969," he says.
"I have to say, though, I appreciate what I have but I’m not too paranoid or worried
about it.
   "If I was, I wouldn’t be able to leave (the violin) alone to
take a shower," he adds with a laugh.
   "The interesting thing about owning a violin like this is that,
although it’s fully mine, I don’t really feel like it’s mine," Mr. Laredo says.
"I feel like I’m a caretaker. In my lifetime, I’ll give it the best care possible,
but then it will go to another violinist. Like any great work of art, whoever
owns it isn’t really the owner."
Jaime Laredo conducts the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and performs with the
Brandenburg Ensemble as part of the NJSO’s Bach Festival 2003 at Prudential
Hall, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St., Newark, June 1, 3 p.m.
Pre-concert lecture with Bach scholar George B. Stauffer, 2 p.m. Tickets cost
$30-$50; lecture only $5. Mr. Laredo conducts and performs with the Brandenburg
Ensemble and the NJSO at Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University, Princeton,
June 5, 8 p.m. Tickets cost $40-$50. Vladimir Feltsman performs with the NJSO
at Richardson Auditorium, Princeton, June 7, 8 p.m. Tickets cost $40-$50; Prudential
Hall, NJPAC, 1 Center St., Newark, June 8, 3 p.m. Tickets cost $30-$50. For information,
call (800) 255-3476. On the Web: www.njsymphony.org