In 1720, a legendary violin was crafted by Antonio Stradivari in Italy: the “Red Mendelssohn” Stradivarius. Stradivari went on to become the most famous violin maker, still renowned today. Soon after the violin was made, it went missing, prompting a search that spanned centuries until it was found in Germany in 1930.
The instrument’s rich history inspired the 1998 Academy Award-winning film The Red Violin, which takes some poetic license when telling its intriguing tale. In the film, a violin maker paints an instrument with the blood of his dead wife to keep her memory alive. Much later, it’s auctioned off by an appraiser played by Samuel L. Jackson. The film follows the violin through those who own it.
This screening includes commentary from Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra’s music director Eckart Preu and a Q&A session with the real violin’s owner, Elizabeth Pitcairn.
Held in conjunction with the CCO’s Summermusik festival, you can even catch a sneak peek of the famed instrument at the Esquire, as it makes a visit to the Queen City during the fest for Aug. 18’s Voyage of the Red Violin talk and concert.
7:30-10 p.m. Thursday (Aug. 16). $12. Esquire Theatre, 320 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, esquiretheatre.com.
This article appears in Aug 8-15, 2018.
