Section: Classics and Modernity

Title: A rare instrument: Bagdat Abilkhanov on the Guarneri violin

Author: Madina Aldanova

"Stradivari and Guarneri violins are distinguished by their silvery tone. These are instruments that have a very strong timbre. Stradivari has everything completely ready, it is a machine that gives everything you ask for. And on the Guarneri violin you need to try hard. I believe that this is a male instrument, you need male strength there. You need to work hard to sound good," - said Bagdat Abilkhanov.

Guarneri is a famous family of Italian stringed instrument makers. Once, a merchant offered Niccolo Paganini to buy a violin by a little-known master at that time - Giuseppe Guarneri. The great musician fell in love with the Guarneri violin, called it the "Cannon" for its deadly power of sound and bequeathed it to his hometown of Genoa. Thus, Niccolo Paganini played a major role in popularizing the name Guarneri. If we turn to the history of performance, then great violinists such as Kreisler, Heifetz, Stern, Kogan and Milstein preferred to play violins of the Guarneri family.

"Not every orchestra has such unique instruments. This is a great rarity, in fact. I think this is a great happiness and success for our orchestra that we have such instruments. Any high-quality instrument has a fruitful effect on the overall sound of the orchestra," - noted the conductor of the Astana Opera theater Ruslan Baimurzin.

The Guarneri violin came to Kazakhstan in the post-war years. Soldiers returning from the battlefields of World War II brought with them valuable trophies with a rich history. At first, the violin was included in the fund of the State Collection of Unique Musical Instruments in Moscow. Years later, some rare specimens were sent to the allied republics.

"I played it from 1997 to 2002, when I was a member of the Gaziza Zhubanova String Quartet. Then our famous expert, director of the State Collection Bulat Tleukhanovich Kapeu, gave me the instrument. Then I received it again in 2014 thanks to our Ministry and the Astana Opera theater. It has been more than ten years. I have grown to it with all the fibers of my soul! The violin belongs to the State Collection of Kazakhstan, it is our museum exhibit. The contract is extended annually and the rent is paid in order to delight our public with the soulful sound of Guarneri," - explained Bagdat Abilkhanov.

An instrument with a rich history, says Bagdat Abilkhanov, teaches discipline, early rises and work on continuous improvement of the game. A rarity that is almost four centuries old is very fragile. It is not easy to maintain and care for it.

"If we, for example, lived in Europe, then the repair of the instrument is 10-20% of the cost. Imagine if the instrument costs a million euros, then it is very difficult to give 200 thousand for repairs. And you can't trust all the masters here," - noted Bagdat Abilkhanov.

Bagdat Abilkhanov worries about the Guarneri violin like his own child. It happens that cracks appear in the old instrument or the deck comes unglued. The desire to help his favorite violin prompted the musician to master restoration skills. He received his first lessons 12 years ago in Moscow from a close friend, Vasily Vyatkin. For many years, Vyatkin has been the restorer of the State Collection of Unique Musical Instruments of Russia and monitors the condition of a large number of Guarneri and Stradivari violins.

"I came to his office and said: listen, Vasily, teach me a little bit to do something - to put my instrument in order. The instrument in my hands is very expensive, I will take care of it. And I am interested in the craft”. He taught me how to put hair in bows, from contrabass to violins. Then I gradually got involved in restoration," - said Bagdat Abilkhanov.

Now the famous musician is actively engaged in restoration, finds rare materials for this. Interrupting and resting from playing the violin, after many hours of classes, he already looks inside the instrument. Restoration has become for him not just a hobby, but a new profession. He gladly “treats” the stringed instruments of the Astana Opera theater. Last year, the master improved his skills in the Italian city of Cremona.

"In the summer I attended a month-long course on restoration and instrument making. I went to a famous master, his name is Maria Luca Galo. A person of advanced age, has a lot of experience. Creates instruments for over 50 years. All of Europe travels to him. People also come from America. They buy instruments from him for 20-30 thousand euros and more. He has orders for 5 years in advance, and payment for the instruments has already been made. As a result of the training, I received not just a certificate, but a real certificate. Thank you for this opportunity to our theater. I was warmly received and loved in Cremona. I plan to go there again this summer," - shared his plans Bagdat Abilkhanov.

In the future, Bagdat Abilkhanov wants to work with Kazakh folk instruments and use violin knowledge for the restoration of kobyz and kyl-kobyz. It is amazing how the Guarneri violin, created in Italy in the 17th century, influences the musical heritage of modern Kazakhstan.