Conductor knocks £1m violin out of musician’s hands mid-performance

EntertainmentMusic
23 Apr 2026 • 6:14 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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Conductor knocks £1m violin out of musician’s hands mid-performance

A conductor accidentally knocked a £1m violin from a musician's hands in the middle of a concert.

Elina Vähälä was performing with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra in Finland when conductor Matthew Hall raised his arm and sent the instrument flying.

Vähälä said the Guadagnini violin survived the fall and nothing was broken.

"The top was slightly detached from the ribs, which is a safety measure in cases of sudden humidity or pressure changes, preventing cracking. It has been glued back in place.

"Matthew is a musician of the finest caliber, and I can’t wait to work with him again."

According to Amorim Fine Violins, Guadagnini violins cost between €1.5m (£1.3m) and €3m (£2.6m).

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