Star violinist displays exceptional grace under pressure as he skilfully manages a catastrophic bow malfunction during a performance
In an unexpected turn of events during a concert with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra on a Wednesday evening, half-Ukrainian, half-Korean violinist Stefan Jackiw experienced a bow break. The incident occurred about 1/3 of the way into his performance of Ukrainian-born composer Reinhold Gliere's violin concerto.
The violin that broke was a 19th-century Parisian bow made by François Nicolas Voirin, a renowned bow maker whose instruments have been used by several distinguished soloists, such as Eugène Ysaÿe and Issac Stern. Jackiw has owned and played his Voirin bow for over 20 years, and it is reportedly worth $30,000 (£23,926).
As the bow snapped, a moment of silence passed before Jackiw swapped bows with concertmaster Amyn Merchant. The concert was conducted by Jackiw's friend Kirill Karabits, who stopped the concerto upon hearing the break. Jackiw resumed the performance without taking a moment for himself, demonstrating his professionalism and resilience.
The broken bow was replaced with one from the second violin desk. The average price of a sought-after Voirin bow is between £18,000-£40,000, and one viola bow sold for $98,000 (£74,643) at auction in 2019. The specific individual who repaired Jackiw's bow is not publicly documented.
After the concert, Jackiw took to Facebook to write about the incident, describing it as a reminder of a nightmare-inducing scenario for most violinists. The performance marked the UK premiere of Gliere's violin concerto, a fitting occasion for such an unexpected event.
Despite the mishap, Jackiw's performance with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra was a success, showcasing his talent and adaptability in the face of adversity.
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