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13 March 2018, 16:02
Sometimes, your instrument decides that it doesn’t like you anymore – so it tries to escape.
Paul Neubauer was all ready to play the lovely viola part from Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for violin, viola and orchestra, when his instrument decided it didn’t want to be played.
Just as he places his bow hairs on the strings, the fingerboard, bridge, strings and tailpiece all simultaneously pop off in one snap.
And it seems Paul has literally no idea what to do next.
After some awkward applause, Paul explains that the pressure got a bit too much for his instrument. He eventually manages to borrow another viola, tune it up and get back to the Mozart.
Smoothly done, Paul.
Credit to violinist Vadim Gluzman, conductor David Danzmayr and the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, who performed this piece at the 2017 North Shore Chamber Music Festival.