A violin worth $7 million stopped in Malibu last week, proving that celebrities aren’t the only ones with entourages.
Accompanied by a security guard whose sole task is to watch over the 300-year-old piece of music history, the Stradivarius 1699 violin was showcased by internationally renowned violinist Edvin Marton. He spent several hours playing, talking and teaching students from Our Lady of Malibu School and Webster Elementary inside the church.
“I always like to share music with children and wanted a intimate setting for meet and greet,” the Hungarian violinist said. “Someone in Malibu recommended this school and the church was the perfect setting.”
The violin, made in Italy in 1699, was recently awarded to Marton for 10 years by the German violin company, Violin Assets. He won out in a field that included nearly 200 violinists and orchestras vying for the opportunity to play on the Stradivarius.
The violin carries the nickname “the ex-Leopold Auer” after the legendary Hungarian composer, violinist and pedagogue who taught many other violin legends. The $7-million violin has also been played by the talented hands of French violinist and composer Jean-Jacques Kantorow.
Marton said the instrument’s build is among the best he has ever played on.
“The sound is incredibly deep, [the] craftsmanship is beautiful, especially the golden varnish,” Marton told The Malibu Times. “The uniqueness of this is you can play love songs, slow melodies or fast ones and the violin responds immediately — making the result of the sound incredibly fast.”
On Monday of last week, Marton mesmerized two groups of students during two separate performances, one for younger students and another for upper-grade students. His music catalogue ranges from classical to pop and rock, and he takes great inspiration from the natural elements.
“Nature is the biggest inspiration for me, like the rain, sunrises, sunsets, the waves of the ocean, mountains,” said Marton, who lives in the San Fernando Valley.
He said he started playing violin at age 5 at the behest of his mother, who told him it would impress the girl he had fallen in love with. That relationship might not have panned out, but his music career certainly did. Music went on to become his life, as he diligently kept at it and practiced every day before breakfast. He was later educated at several recognized schools, including The Juilliard School in New York City, and has gone on to play at the 2006 Winter Olympics, several international competitions, and concerts with Seal and Supertramp.
Marton is especially enthusiastic about garnering interest among youngsters in music and the arts.
“We need to take this from an emotion side, so they can feel the difference,” Marton said. “Music is around us all our lives, when we are happy, sad, surprised, and weddings, birthdays. If you play an instrument, you have a better understanding of what is around us. Music is always there. It is a part of our soul as human beings.”
This was Marton’s first time performing to an audience on the $7-million instrument. His next LA-area concert is at Cal State Northridge on Saturday, Dec. 6. For more information, visit EdvinMarton.com.
