Violin string broke, but symphony played on
On today's Wild Card, FlorineD comments:
Attendees at yesterday's Spokane Symphony performance were treated to an extra dollop of excitement and a demonstration of professional control. The guest violinist was in the athletic midst of Tchaikovsky's violin concerto when a string on his Strad broke. Four of the performers did their stuff with the outward appearance of calm: the conductor just kept the orchestra going, the star violinist quickly traded violins with the concert master and kept on playing, the concert master quickly traded the crippled Strad for the 2nd violinist's instrument and kept on playing, and the 2nd violinist calmly reached into his pocket, brought out a few envelopes, chose one, and restrung the Strad. I saw the concert master point to the sheet music with his bow, indicating (to the 2nd violinist) a place when the 3-way handoff could happen. A few seconds later, everybody had the violins they'd started with, a potential disaster was averted, and the audience continued to be enthralled with the music. Maybe Cathyanne Nonini can tell us: "Do all violinists tote a supply of spare strings in their pockets during a performance?"
