Category: Classics and modernity

Name:The rarest instrument: Bagdat Abilkhanov on the Guarneri violin

Author: Madina Aldanova

«Stradivari and Guarneri violins are distinguished by a silvery tone of sound. These are instruments that have a very strong timbre. Stradivari has everything completely ready, it's a machine that gives you everything you ask for. And on the Guarneri violin, you need to try to try. I think it's a man's tool, it needs a man's strength. You need to apply yourself well to sound", - Bagdat Abilkhanov told .

The Guarneri are a famous family of Italian bow makers. One day, a merchant offered Nicolo Paganini to buy a violin by a little-known master at that time, Giuseppe Guarneri. The great musician fell in love with Guarneri's violin, called it a "Cannon" for the deadly power of sound and bequeathed it to his hometown of Genoa. So, Nicolo Paganini played a big role in popularizing the Guarneri name. If we turn to the history of performance, then great violinists such as Kreisler, Heifetz, Stern, Kogan and Milstein preferred to play the Guarneri family violins.

«Not every orchestra has such unique instruments. It's very rare, actually. I think it 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," said Ruslan Baymurzin, conductor of the Astana Opera House.

Guarneri's violin came to Kazakhstan in the post-war years. The soldiers who returned from the fields of the Second World War 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 Union republics.

«I played it from 1997 to 2002, when I was a member of the Gaziza Zhubanova String Quartet. At that time, our famous expert, director of the State Collection Bulat Tleukhanovich Kapeu, gave me the instrument. Then I got it again in 2014 thanks to our Ministry and the theater."Astana Opera". It's been more than ten years. I'm rooted to it with every fiber of my soul! The violin belongs to the State Collection of Kazakhstan, it is our museum exhibit. The contract is renewed annually and the rent is paid in order to please our audience with the soulful sound of Guarneri," Bagdat Abilkhanov explained .

A tool with a rich history, says Bagdat Abilkhanov, teaches discipline, early risers and work on constant improvement of the game. The rarity, which is almost four centuries old, is very fragile. It's not easy to keep him and keep an eye on him.

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

For the Guarneri violin Bagdat Abilkhanov worries like for his own child. It happens that cracks appear in an old instrument or the soundboard is coming apart. The desire to help his beloved 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 in Russia and monitors the condition of a large number of violinsGuarneri and Stradivari.

«I went to his office and said:Listen, Vasily, teach me to do something a little bit - to put my instrument in order. The instrument in my hands is very expensive, I will keep an eye on it. And I'm interested in the craft.” He taught me how to put hair in bows, ranging from double bass to violins. Then I gradually got involved in the restoration," Bagdat Abilkhanov told .

Now the famous musician is actively engaged in restoration, finds rare materials for this. Interrupting and resting from playing the violin, after hours of practice, he looks inside the instrument. Restoration became not just a hobby for him, but a new profession. He is happy to "heal" the stringed instruments of the Astana Opera Theater. Last year, the master improved his skills in the Italian city Cremona.

«In the summer, I attended a month-long course on restoration and tool making. I went to the famous master, his name is Maria Luca Galo. A man of advanced age, has a lot of work experience. He has been creating tools for more than 50 years. The whole of Europe goes to him. They come from America too. They buy tools from him for 20-30 thousand euros and more expensive. He has orders scheduled for 5 years in advance, and the payment for the tools has already been made. As a result of my studies, I received not just a certificate, but a real certificate. Thank you for this opportunity to our theater. I was taken to heart and loved in Cremona. I plan to go there this summer too," Bagdat Abilkhanov shared his plans .

In the future, Bagdat Abilkhanov wants to study 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, affects the musical heritage of modern Kazakhstan.