We always thought the protocol was that if you own something terribly precious, you aren't really supposed to tell anyone about it. Oh that Matisse hanging to the right of the Chagall? Elmyr de Hory. My Rolex? No, no...It’s a Rolax. That LV bag? 20 bucks on Canal Street. This axiom doesn't hold true for 35-year-old Italian violinist Matteo Fedeli and his fetish for Stradivari violins, who says: "I arm myself with a gun when I play in public with my legendary violins that are worth millions of euros." Gimmick? Shenanigans? We're unsure, but we had to post it...
From the 25/27 giugno 2007 edition of Chi magazine, we found an entertaining interview with the renegade musician (there was also an interview with Katia Ricciarelli -- but priorities, people, priorities!). Fedeli first speaks about why the Stradivari violins are so unique and have such a beautiful sound, musing about the enchanted wood, the luscious lacquers, and the culmination of secrets from the Stradivari workshop.
His first encounter with a Stradivarius was when he played a 1731 Stradivari Rubinoff, which he recounts as an ecstatic, almost orgasmic trip, 'mi sentivo al settimo cielo', and realized immediately that he was destined to play the one-of-a-kind violins. His preferred instrument? A "Franciscus Stradivarius Cremonensis Filius Antonii faciebat Anno 1713" from a private collection.
The fire-arm happy violinist takes the responsibility to carry a hand gun seriously (specifically a 357 Magnum), and by enrolling in handgun classes, now considers himself to be 'un buon tiratore'. (an excellent marksman). Ideally, the gun is implemented only as a deterrent, and he jokingly refers to himself as "Inspector Callaghan", in reference to Clint Eastwood's character from the 1971 film Dirty Harry.
Of course, his violins are insured, but he says you can never be too careful or take too many precautions. To him, it's not about the money, as he considers each violin a priceless, sentimental instrument and an irreplaceable piece of history. The emotional state he reaches when he plays one of his violins is the motivation behind keeping them so safe, and he sometimes moves between venues with one or two additionally armed bodyguards.
dees violins wont git stolen...not if i got nething 2 do with it. *polishes gun* *spits wad of tobaccy* Seriously, how gangsta is that? omg I want to rip on him so badly, but he'll prolly come after me with a rifle. He should be warned tho: I was a sureshot @ Duck Hunt.
