11.03.2015

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Flamboyant gypsy violinist Roby Lakatos performs on a Stradivarius violin for the first time in public in an exclusive evening with his gypsy quartet extraordinaire on Sunday 29 March.

For the next Amati Exhibition (29 & 30 March), gypsy violinist Lakatos performs on a rare Stradivarius violin for the first time in public with his ensemble in an exclusive cabaret-style evening in the Grand Ballroom of The Langham, London on the Sunday evening. Provided by Florian Leonhard Fine Violins for this one-off performance, Lakatos performs on the Willemote Strad from 1734, made at the end of Antonio Stradivari’s life. Florian Leonhard has concluded “I can’t imagine a better violin to suit Lakatos’s vibrant, exuberantly expressive playing.”

The Amati Exhibition brings together dealers and makers from the string world, allowing them to showcase exceptional antique and contemporary instruments and bows for sale in advance of Amati’s next online auction on 31 March. On display at the Exhibition will be Julian Lloyd Webber’s cello, an Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1690, the ‘Barjansky’.                       
 
Amati’s Fine String auction on view alongside the exhibition will include instruments made by Stefano Scarampella (1843-1925) - £50,000-£70,000, Giuseppe Ceruti (1785-1860) - £30,000-£50,000, an Italian violin with Hill papers, £20,000 - £30,000 and an exceptional silver-mounted violin bow by Joseph Henry (1823-1870) - £15,000 - £25,000.

Flamboyant gypsy violinist Roby Lakatos is not only a scorching virtuoso, but also a musician of extraordinary stylistic versatility and the envy of the world’s leading violinists. Equally comfortable performing classical music as he is playing jazz and in his own Hungarian folk idiom, Lakatos is a musician who defies definition. He has fashioned his own blend of jazz, klezmer and flamenco into a unique gypsy style that is reminiscent of his idols Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli. He is a universal musician so rarely encountered today - a player whose strength as an interpreter derives from his activities as an improviser and composer.
 
Born in 1965 into the legendary family of gypsy violinists descended from Janos Bihari, “King of Gypsy Violinists”, Roby Lakatos was introduced to music as a child and at age nine he made his public debut as first violin in a gypsy band. His musicianship evolved initially with his family and subsequently at the Béla Bartók Conservatory of Budapest, where he won the first prize for classical violin in 1984. Between 1986 and 1996, Lakatos and his ensemble established a home at « Les Atéliers de la grande Ille » in Brussels where Sir Yehudi Menuhin came to admire his incomparable technique. Lakatos has collaborated with amongst others classical violinist Maxim Vengerov and Vadim Repin as well as his idol Stéphane Grappelli. In March 2004, Lakatos appeared to great acclaim with the London Symphony Orchestra in the orchestra’s “Genius of the Violin” festival alongside Maxim Vengerov.
 
Roby Lakatos breaks down the stereotype of a traditional classical violinist and gypsy virtuoso without disrespect for either heritage. On the contrary, he unites and refreshes a 300-year-old music tradition that has cross-fertilised gypsy music with the great composers of the past, Brahms, Liszt, Mozart and more. Lakatos’ ensemble embodies this unifying philosophy as many of his gypsy musicians were also classically trained at the same conservatoire.

The Amati Exhibition
 
The Amati Exhibition, launched in October 2013, is the first industry event of its kind tied to London sales week in March and October bringing together experts at the auction houses. It is a networking opportunity for the string sector welcoming musicians, dealers and private buyers. All the instruments in the online auction will be on view at The Amati Exhibition at the Langham Hotel, London on 29 and 30 March 2015.
 
This is our fourth exhibition and we are pleased to announce that due to expansion and increased interest we are hosting the exhibition in the magnificent Grand Ballroom of The Langham.
 
The event is international with exhibitors coming from the UK, US, Europe and Japan. It is an invaluable networking opportunity that is not to be missed. The Grand Ballroom is spectacular, spacious and naturally light. Amati will host a drinks reception on Sunday 29th, followed by an exclusive performance with Roby Lakatos and his ensemble.
 
We are also pleased to announce that Lark, specialists in musical instrument insurance will be hosting their annual London drinks soirée at the exhibition on the 30th March from 3pm.