Maxim's Instruments

The Violins

1998 Kreutzer Stradivarius

In April 1998 Maxim acquired, with the generous help of Yoko Nagae-Ceschina, his own Stradivarius violin, from Christie’s in London. The ex-Kreutzer Stradivarius 1727 achieved a record sale for a musical instrument at auction, fetching £947,500 (more information here).

Previous owners of the Kreutzer Stradivarius include, of course, the violinist Rodolphe Kreutzer, the US Senator William A Clark and the industrialist George Kress; (click here for a history of the Kreutzer)

2005 Violectra - electric violin

In 2005 in order to play the Tango Rock Viola concerto by Benjamin Yusupov, Maxim acquired an electric 5 string violin.

This is bright blue in colour and made by the Violectra company. The extra string (a C string) gives the instrument the range of both viola and violin.

Previous violins

During his early years in Russia the Russian authorities lent Maxim a Stradivarius for a time.

1988-1993 (as his main violin - but in use until 2002) Landolfi

At age 14 (at the time Maxim and his family left Russia and settled in Lubeck), presumably because the Russian authorities withdrew the loan, his parents bought him an 18th-century Italian violin of some quality. It was not known at that time who the maker was, but this became Maxim’s main instrument. Zubin Mehta, on first meeting Maxim in Israel to perform the Paganini concerto when Maxim was around 16, described it as "a box he brought with him out of Siberia". However despite Mehta’s view of the instrument, when it was later restored by Nahum Tukh to its original Baroque specifications during 1999, it was discovered it was in fact by Carlo Landolfi made in 1760.

[From the violin sellers - Beare’s – website (referring to a violin made in the same year): Carlo Landolfi, c.1760-This wonderful violin exemplifies the strong personal character associated with this fine Milanese maker. The tonal qualities exude a boldness of character and a depth of sound that make it a pleasure for the performer as well as the audience.]

However in 2002, very tragically, this violin was left under an open window in an unshut case; a heavy rainstorm poured through on to it and it was left soaking in water. It was ruined. Maxim is searching for another Baroque violin.

1993-1995 Reynier Stradivarius

In 1993 at the age of 19, Maxim was generously loaned the Reynier Stradivarius 1727 from LVMH, (Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton organisation in France). It was first loaned to him for the Bruch / Mendelssohn recording, in September 1993.

This violin is now on loan to Kirrill Troussev (as at 2003).

1995-1998 Stradivarius

In 1995 Maxim received a loan Stradivarius from the Stradivari Society in Chicago, the ex-Kiesewetter 1723. This was purchased by Clement Arrison for Maxim’s use.

This violin was on loan to Ilya Gringolts (to 2005) but now is with Stefan Jackiw (as at 2005).

In March 2006 Maxim gave a concert at the Royal Academy of Music in London playing Paganini's violin, a Guanerius named 'Il Cannone', which was on loan for the Paganini festival to the RAM for a short period of time. A review and pictures of the recital can be found here.

The Violas

2004 Viola made by Samuel Zygmuntowicz, on special commission from Maxim.

Maxim's stipulation was that it had to sound really big, but be very small, yet still be able to meet the technical and expressive demands he would face in his upcoming Yusupov Concerto.

The viola is labeled;

Samuel Zygmuntowicz

New York 2004

Previous violas

28/03/02-12/05/02 Guanerius

On loan from the Royal Academy of Music, London. In only six weeks Maxim learnt to play the viola which was followed by an exhausting tour of Europe (commencing 28th April in Manchester), with the ECO during which he performed the viola part of Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante, K364, with Philippe Mesin, (one of Maxim’s pupils), on violin.

12/05/02-20/12/2002 "Archinto" Stradivarius 1696

The Guanerius was exchanged for one of the few surviving Stradivarius violas, again on loan from the Royal Academy of Music.

Entry from RAM website:

Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737): Archinto viola, 1696, Stradivari produced relatively few violas: only ten complete instruments remain extant. For elegance and grandeur, together with its remarkable state of preservation, the Archinto is perhaps the best example known.

The Archinto is named after a former owner. Count Archinto of Milan bought the viola from Count Carlo Gambara of Brescia in about 1800 to complete his quartet of Stradivari instruments. J-B Vuillaume, the Parisian violin-maker and dealer, bought the complete quartet in 1860; the viola was subsequently bought by Rutson, and presented to the Academy in 1890.

During this period, alongside his other commitments, Maxim perfected his viola technique and recorded the Walton Viola concerto in December 2002. As soon as the recording was completed the viola was returned to the RAM.

Maxim now has a new viola made especially to his own specifications by the New York luthier Samuel Zygmuntowicz - see above.

The bows

Current bows

Maxim has several bows amongst them a Tourte style manufactured by Pierre Simon of France; Bernardel; Marascot; and Basin.

Previous bows

Jascha Heifetz, on giving up professional playing, famously gave his bow to his biographer, Herbert Axelrod, saying "Give this to the right man". A few years later, at a Vengerov concert, he identified the right man and, in March 1994, presented Heifetz’s bow to Maxim on loan. (Heifetz owned many bows and it is unlikely that this particular bow was the famous Kittel bow.)

Maxim used this bow regularly up to 2000 when the extended loan was recalled.