WATCH: The sounds of a £2.4m violin

Wednesday 09 March 2022

Sounds of a 342-year-old violin worth £2.4m will be filling one of Jersey’s most beloved historic properties this week.

Today, the Georgian House in New Street will be hosting the first of four live performances by acclaimed violinist Jonathan Hill and pianist Nick Miller, Director of Music at St. Margaret's Putney, in aid of the National Trust for Jersey.

Video: A short piece by violinist Jonathan Hill and pianist Nick Miller.

The National Trust is a charitable organisation and was founded in 1937. The Trust are responsible for preserving the Island’s major historic sites. One of their visions is to ensure their historic buildings are kept in a good state of repair.

This is the second time Jonathan Hill has performed in the Georgian House in New Street - one of the Trust's properties - and the first time he will be performing with a Stradivarius in Jersey. 

Hill's connection to Jersey stretches back nearly three decades.

He previously told Express that he had “fallen in love” with the island 28 years ago, when he had first been invited over to lead the Jersey Symphony Orchestra through the Royal College of Music. Though initially he only came over three times a year, that soon changed when he left the orchestra in 2001. 

“The couple I was staying with said, ‘Don’t be a stranger,’” he laughed, “so instead of coming three times a year, I started coming eight times a year!”

Hill is also known for holding events in the past for charity - in October 2020, he ran the equivalent of the London marathon across St. Ouen’s Bay to raise money for a London theatre charity. 

Picture: Jonathan started playing violin at the age of 5, following the musical footsteps of his father. He later went on to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

The star of the show at today's Ogier-sponsored concert will be the Stradivarius violin.

Violins made by Antonio Stradivarius were created in the 18th Century. They remain some of the most expensive and valuable instruments in the world.

Speaking to Express about how he came to into possession of the instrument, Jonathan said his friends phoned him.

"'We've got this £2.4 million Strad that was made in 1680. You can have it for a month'... and so here we are, here we are with this absolutely ridiculous violin," he explained.

Picture: After having spent 10 years working as a lead violinist on Les Miserables, Jonathan had decided to start performing live concerts.

The pandemic had changed everything for musicians, Jonathan said, with "live performances hit really badly".

He expressed how good it was to be able to play again - particularly with such a prestigious instrument. 

"The Stradivarius is an amazing thing.

"When you are in control of it, it's the most marvellous experience. But they are certainly not easy, they are not easy to play at all."

Picture: The Georgian House at 16 New Street.

Jonathan Hill will be performing today (Wednesday) at 19:30, on Thursday at 18:00 and 19:30, and Friday at 19:30.

If you are interested in going to one of the live performances, you can find tickets HERE.