NPR's Fred Child is in Aspen, on stage with the Shaham family -- pianist Orli Shaham, her brother, violinist Gil Shaham, and Gil's wife, violinist Adele Anthony.
First Orli and Adele -- who have known each other since they were both pre-teen talents at Aspen -- play the first movement of the Mozart Violin Sonata in F Major, K. 374e.
Gil Shaham then joins his wife and sister to perform. The three musicians had only recently played together as a trio due to the scarcity of pieces written for two violins and piano. They play one of the best: the Suite for 2 violins and Piano, op. 71, by Polish composer Moritz Moszkowski (1854-1925).
Gil Shaham and Adele Anthony both play Stradivarius violins -- Gil's made in 1699 and Adele's in 1728. Fred asks Gil about an interesting contraption he uses inside his instrument: a Dampit.
During the summer festival season, especially in particularly dry locations like Aspen, performers find that the Dampit -- costing all of $.99 -- is crucial to keeping their multi-million dollar instruments humidified.
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