Violinist Bartu Elçi-Özsoy Loaned the 1760 "ex-Vidas" Guadagnini

The 20-year-old French and Turkish violinist will play on the instrument for one year

Violinist Bartu Elçi-Özsoy will soon play on the 1760 "ex-Vidas" Guadagnini, which is to be loaned to him by the Paris Conservatoire.

A violinist, conductor, and composer, Elçi-Özsoy was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire aged just 15, where he studied with Alexis Galpérine. He is currently completing his master's degree under Sarah Nemtanu, the concertmaster of l’Orchestre National de France.

Elçi-Özsoy is also committed to using his art for social good. In April 2023, in tandem with Association Jeunes Talents, UNICEF, and patron Emmanuel Macron, Elçi-Özsoy organized a benefit concert to raise funds for those affected by devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

The "ex-Vidas" Guadagnini instrument was named for its previous owner, the Romanian-born violinist Raoul Georges Vidas (1901–1978). Following his death, Vidas's mother donated the instrument to the Paris Conservatoire, where it has remained ever since. Vidas was closely associated with the institution, and studied there with Henri Berthelier.

Previous recipients of the instrument include Stéphanie-Marie Degand, Yun-Peng Zhao, and Sarah Nemtanu.

"As I embark on this new chapter with the 'ex-Vidas' Guadagnini, I am reminded of the power of music to connect, inspire and transcend," Elci-Ozsoy said. "It is an honor to be a part of this story, to contribute to the legacy of this magnificent instrument, and to share it with audiences around the world."