$10m violin plays to surf storm

Australian Chamber Orchestra director Richard Tognetti with the 267-year-old violin.

Kari Bourned

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Noosa's Festival of Surfing 2010

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STORM clouds, a cyclone and stunning notes played on a 267-year-old violin – the Noosa Festival of Surfing is nothing if not dramatic.

The first two days of the festival encountered drizzling rain followed by beaming sunshine.

And last night was the performance of The Glide by one of the world’s foremost violinists, playing an instrument created by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu.

Australian Chamber Orchestra director Richard Tognetti, with assistant director Satu Vänskä also on violin and percussionist Claire Edwardes, were expected to dazzle an entranced crowd last night, with Mr Tognetti playing the historic instrument alongside a Jon Frank film.

The performance with the del Gusu meant Mr Tognetti was going nowhere near the salty spray of the ocean.

The instrument, reportedly worth up to $10 million but priceless to him, was like “playing the Mona Lisa” and gave the crowd a unique taste of music that went beyond the scope of the expected classical instrumental.

“You can hear the difference. It’s a lot clearer. It’s about the colours you can get from it,” Mr Tognetti said.