Falling for Stradivari

Dutch violinist Janine Jansen got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – to play on 12 of the world’s greatest Stradivari violins. Throughout his life, Antonio Stradivari, the famous luthier from Cremona, sought to create the perfect instrument and sound. Virtuoso violinist Jansen views the violins and their creator with the utmost reverence, yet her hands are comfortable and confident from the moment she touches each of the instruments. She looks at the violins as if looking at a living thing, and her eyes light up as the instruments respond to her playing, creating a hypnotizing duet.

Sir Antonio Pappano, music director of London’s Royal Opera House, joins Jansen on piano and together they explore the unique sound produced by each violin and decide which composition will bring out its best. Director Gerald Fox succeeds in documenting this fascinating experiment and conveying Jansen’s passion to viewers, keeping their eyes glued to the screen.