"Violin Worth Billions" Spins Through the Air and Crashes to the Floor...Dramatic Concert Hall Accident

In Finland, a violin soloist accidentally dropped a violin worth several billion won onto the stage floor during a performance, causing a temporary interruption. The accident occurred when the conductor's swinging arm and baton struck the instrument.

According to Finnish media outlet Yle and others on April 23, the incident took place on April 16 during a concert at the Sibelius Hall in Lahti, Finland. At the time, soloist Elina Baekhella was performing the finale of a concerto with the orchestra. The orchestra was conducted by British-born Matthew Hols.

The violin played at the time of the accident was made by the 18th-century Italian maker Giovanni Battista Guadagnini. According to local reports, its value is estimated at 1 million to 3 million euros, equivalent to approximately 1.7 billion to 5.2 billion Korean won. Yle

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At the peak moment of the performance, the baton and arm that Hols swung widely struck the violin that Baekhella was holding. The violin slipped from Baekhella's hand, bounced into the air, spun several times, and then fell to the stage floor. Baekhella was startled and covered her face in shock. Hols also paused for a moment but soon signaled the orchestra to stop playing. The performance was halted for about two minutes, after which Baekhella checked the condition of her instrument, returned to the stage, and completed the performance.

The violin played at the time of the accident was made by the 18th-century Italian maker Giovanni Battista Guadagnini. According to local reports, its value is estimated at 1 million to 3 million euros, equivalent to approximately 1.7 billion to 5.2 billion Korean won. Fortunately, the instrument did not sustain major damage. The impact caused a slight separation between the front and side plates, but it avoided severe damage such as cracks or a broken neck. This was thanks to Baekhella sticking out her foot just before the violin hit the floor, partially absorbing the shock.

At the peak moment of the performance, the baton and arm that Hols swung widely struck the violin that Baekhella was holding. The violin slipped from Baekhella's hand, bounced into the air, spun several times, and then fell to the stage floor. Photo by Yle

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Baekhella explained, "After finishing the performance, the grip of the hand holding the violin was slightly loosened," and added, "At that moment, the conductor struck the violin, causing it to slip from my hand." She continued, "With what felt like an unbelievable reflex, I stuck out my foot to prevent the instrument from falling directly to the floor," and said, "Although it appeared intact on the outside, I could sense a subtle change in its sound."

A local violin maker and repair expert told Yle, "In such accidents, cracks can appear or the neck can break, but in this case, it was limited to the joints opening slightly, so the result is rather fortunate." Yle reported that the repair is not expected to have a significant impact on the instrument's value. Hols later apologized to Baekhella. He said, "I have conducted violin concertos many times, but I will never forget this performance," and added, "I have deep respect for Baekhella, who delivered an outstanding performance both before and after the accident."

The price of high-end string instruments varies greatly depending on the maker, preservation condition, ownership history, tone, and rarity. In particular, string instruments made by renowned Italian artisans such as Stradivarius, Guarneri, and Guadagnini in the 17th and 18th centuries are traded on the international market for several million to tens of millions of dollars. Among violins sold at public auction, the most expensive example is the 1721 'Lady Blunt' Stradivarius, which was auctioned for $15.9 million in 2011 and has long been cited as the highest auction price for a violin. In 2025, the 1714 'Joachim-Ma' Stradivarius was sold at auction in New York for $11.3 million.

1716 'Messiah' Stradivarius owned by the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, UK. Ashmolean Museum, Oxford official website

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However, the title of "most expensive violin" depends on the criteria. If estimated prices or private sales are included rather than public auction prices, some violins are valued at around $20 million or even higher. One notable example is the 1716 'Messiah' Stradivarius owned by the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, UK, which is often cited as an instrument with an exceptionally high estimated market value.

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