I was halfway through a tour when I got a call from the instrument dealership Beare’s. “We’ve found the perfect violin for you.” We arranged to meet at my parents’ house. They came with a double case: two Strads. Two Strads! That one case was worth more than the house we were standing in.
I examined them closely. The first was a prime example of Antonio Stradivari’s golden period (1700–20). For its pedigree, it was the one to go for. A handsome-looking instrument, reddish brown with hints of darker mahogany throughout. I drew my bow across the strings. A deep and rich voice emerged. Could this be my voice? Commanding, sonorous, powerful. Qualities you’d look for in the perfect instrument. But I wasn’t sure.
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