“A bodyguard has never been necessary for a Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra guest, but that changes this summer when violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn comes to town,” writes Madeline Mitchell in Sunday’s (8/12) Cincinnati Enquirer (OH). “Pitcairn plays an 18th century Stradivarius, famously known as the Red Violin, the inspiration behind the 1998 film which won composer John Corigliano an Academy Award for best music…. Pitcairn said that the bodyguard is there to protect her if anyone were to harm her and try to take the instrument…. The Red Violin was once owned by composer Felix Mendelssohn’s family…. The Cincinnati Art Museum … has created a collection of artwork specifically to represent the journey of the Red Violin…. Pitcairn will perform in three concerts…. One is a film screening of the movie where she will perform excerpts on the Red Violin itself. Another concert will dive into the violin’s Romani past with Balkan gypsy tunes…. The Saturday concert … will feature a wide range of pieces that align with the violin’s history…. Pitcairn … agreed that the interest in the violin does stem from the movie for many non-orchestra goers, but … ‘then discover that they have this love for music that they didn’t know about.’ ”
Posted August 14, 2018
