Les Voix du Guadagnini, de la lutherie à l’interprétation

Documentary film about the Guadagnini violin, ca. 1760 The Guadagnini violin was bequeathed to the Paris Conservatory in 1996 by Anna Vidas, in memory of her son Raoul Vidas, a great, globetrotting virtuoso who died in 1978, and in remembrance of his teacher Henri Berthelier, a professor at the Paris Conservatory at the turn of the 20th century. This bequest aimed to allow young violin students at the Paris Conservatory to play an exceptional instrument, unaffordable for most of them. The Conservatory commissioned three replicas from luthiers to recreate this instrument through its various historical stages. This tool will allow violinists to explore the aesthetics and interpretation of the violin in depth. Concert performers, teachers, students, luthiers, and experts share their perspectives on the violin, from its construction to its performance, in this documentary. The documentary aims to encourage violinists to reflect on their practice: Given the evolution of knowledge, pedagogy, and the practices of musicians and orchestras, is it still possible to distinguish between "ancient" and "modern" violins? How can instrument making inform the performer's work? How can great, legendary instruments, both ancient and modernized, justify their enduring appeal and "authenticity"? What alternatives to historical violins now exist? What opportunities does this open for the future of violin playing? The Guadagnini violin was loaned to numerous students during their studies, including Stéphanie-Marie Degand, Sarah Nemtanou, and Yunpeng Zhao. This documentary showcases the qualities of this exceptional instrument that accompanied them throughout their education. Rachel Koblyakov, a student in the DAI program, took a close interest in the instrument's history and the story of its legacy; her research led to a rediscovery of the important place Raoul Vidas held in French and American musical life during the first quarter of the 20th century. Running time: 55'44" A film by Agnès Démaret Based on an idea by Julien Dubois Produced by the Audiovisual Department of the Paris Conservatory