Priceless 18th-century violin repaired after mid-concert fall

A rare Guadagnini violin worth millions of euros is back in working order after being accidentally knocked to the floor during a concert in Lahti, Finland, reports national broadcaster Yle.

The instrument, played by violinist Elina Vähälä, fell during the finale of Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto on Thursday when conductor Matthew Halls’ hand struck the violin. Violin maker Jarkko Niemi confirmed he successfully re-glued the opened seam, allowing Vähälä to reclaim her instrument.

“Seams can sometimes open from even minor impacts, or the neck might snap—this could have been much worse,” Niemi told Yle on Saturday. He credited Vähälä’s quick reflexes—she partially cushioned the fall with her foot—as key to preventing more severe damage.

Conductor Halls publicly apologized for the accident on Instagram, praising Vähälä for continuing the performance “with such commitment after this rare event,” as first reported by Ilta-Sanomat.

The violin, crafted by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini in the 1700s, is valued at several million euros. Niemi noted that more extensive damage could have permanently reduced its worth.