A voice powerful enough to open pores and unbuckle joints
The incredible voice of this violin and the story spooling from its battered body inspired me to write a book about it. Lev’s Violin, An Italian Adventure reached many thousands of listeners when it was broadcast as BBC Radio 4’s ‘Book of the Week’.
But Lev’s violin was already celebrated by musicians and audiences by the time Lev Atlas smuggled it out of Russia in the 1980s.
And now it is renowned in this country for playing both classical music and the breath-taking, genre-bending world folk that its current owner Greg Lawson performs with Moishe's Bagel.
Broken!
But now this precious violin is broken. Its neck has collapsed and its fragile body needs thorough restoration. It has been lying in its case for a year or more, unplayable until it is restored.
A new chapter
With help from Martin Swan Violins and Anette Fajardo, we want to restore Lev's violin and give its voice back to the world. By contributing to our campaign you will help it to live on for another hundred years or so. If we reach our target we will give as many people as possible the chance to experience the glorious sound of Lev's violin by recording a new CD. And then the violin will be offered on loan to exceptional students seeking out their own voices as musicians, and to other players with projects especially suited to its particular tone. Any additional funds will be passed to Music for All, a UK charity dedicated to helping people of all ages and from all backgrounds get involved in music making.