Friday, March 26, 2010

Elizabeth Pitcairn interview by Blake Hannon

World-renowned violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn didn’t always own one of the most legendary stringed instruments ever made. When she was growing up in northern Pennsylvania, her mother took her to a violin shop to get her first real instrument when she was 5 years old. At that age, she admits she had different criteria than she does today. “I wanted the pretty looking (red) one and she wanted this one that was yellow and sounded good,” Pitcairn says. “I guess it turns out I got the red one that sounds good later in life.” The “red one” happens to be the 1720 Red Mendelssohn Stradivarius violin, whose creation and history became the inspiration for the 1999 film “The Red Violin.” Now, both the instrument and Pitcairn’s virtuosic skill are coming to our area to perform with the Saint Joseph Symphony for its concert “The Red Violin,” taking place at 7:30 p.m. March 27 at the Missouri Theater.

more at St. Joe Live

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