Feature: Aurora, Exfoulis

AURORA, EXFOULIS

KAREN GOMYOS' STRADIVARIUS VIOLIN

Classically trained musicians frequently develop close relationships with their musical instruments. When Violinist Karen Gomyo first was introduced to her Stradivarius violin, it wasn’t exactly love at first sight— but it was close.

“I’m incredibly attached to it,” she told San Francisco Classical Voice in 2012.

Gomyo performs on a Stradivarius violin named the “Aurora, exFoulis,” which was built in 1703. When she first began playing it, it hadn’t been played much for decades.

Gomyo, who served as violinist, host, and narrator for a documentary about Antonio Stradivarius, The Mysteries of the Supreme Violin, performs on a Stradivarius violin that was bought for her exclusive use by a private sponsor.

“I would describe my violin as having a very pure tone. That doesn’t mean quiet; it certainly carries very well in a hall. But it’s a silvery tone. It has a lot of warmth,” she said. “It comes with a strong personality, and you can’t impose yourself on it.”

Unlike many Stradivari, the instrument never was owned previously by a renowned violinist. Throughout the 20th century, it only had three owners—rare for an instrument of this caliber.

Gomyo said it took her years to get acquainted with the instrument because an instrument such as a Stradivarius has its own character.

At 15, she became the youngest violinist ever accepted on the management roster of Young Concert Artists. In 2008 at age 26, she was awarded an Avery Fisher Career Grant.

Gomyo has performed with top American orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra in the United States as well as with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Danish National Symphony, and Tokyo Symphony Orchestra.

Gomyo performs on a Stradivarius violin named the “Aurora, exFoulis,” which was built in 1703.

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