Birthe Blom: Leven met een Stradivarius

• 22 March 2026
  • 15:00 – 17:00

Birthe Blom, the current player of the former Paul Godwin Stradivarius, and pianist Mirsa Adami present a musical program about the incredible life of Paul Godwin and his violin. Paul Godwin, one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century, fled the war, but always accompanied by his beloved Stradivarius.

In collaboration with Ernestine Brikkenaar van Dijk, author of the book ‘Maestro’ about the life of Paul Godwin, Birthe and Mirsa put together a program with works that are strongly connected to the violinist’s astonishing life story.

Compositions by Bloch, Kreisler, Smetana, Hubay, and Elgar, among others, will be performed, as will Poulenc’s violin/piano sonata, whose music is an intense expression and example of the frenzied pre-war climate in major European cities. The musicians will also perform works from the repertoire of Paul Godwin’s famous salon orchestra, with which he sold millions of records worldwide.

In short, this program offers a varied, narrative, and engaging performance that connects with the moving and remarkable life story of Paul Godwin and his Stradivarius. Birthe and Mira provide the music, and Ernestine narrates.