Gao Can's golden strings

Gao Can plays a 400-year-old violin during his performance with the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra in Guangzhou in September. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Chinese musician Gao Can will soon play a 400-year-old violin used to premiere Beethoven's work. Chen Nan reports.

In 1617, the Amatis, a celebrated Italian family of violin makers, crafted a violin, which was later owned by the noble Lobkowicz family.

The Czech family was a patron of Ludwig van Beethoven at the prime of his career. When the composer's String Quartets, Op 18 was published in 1810, the violin was used for the composition's premiere.

Four centuries later at an upcoming concert at the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing, Chinese violinist Gao Can will play the same violin, which has been loaned to him by the Stradivari Society in Chicago. The private US organization, which buys rare violins and loans them to promising young musicians, had selected Gao for this purpose back in 2011.

"I am grateful and honored that the Stradivari Society has granted me the long-term use of the violin. About a year ago, I decided to play this antique violin to celebrate its 400-year-old history," says Gao, 36.

He played the violin while making his debut at the Berliner Philharmonie in May, playing pieces that included the Violin Sonata in A Major by Cesar Franck, and Violin Sonata No 7 in C Minor by Beethoven.

He played the violin again with the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, marking the orchestra's 60th anniversary, in Guangzhou in September.