Virtuoso Snubbed in Train Station

What Happens If A violinist Plays in The Subway And Nobody Hears It?
By News Dude,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 15, 2007 1:10 PM CDT
Virtuoso Snubbed in Train Station
Violinist Joshua Bell embraces his 1713 Stradivarius, purchased several years ago for more than $3 million, during an interview in his New York apartment on Oct. 8, 2003. Bell received $75,000 as the winner of the coveted Avery Fisher Prize, which honors achievement in a musical career, in a presentation...   (Associated Press)

Washington Post reporter Gene Weingarten put world-renowned violinist, Joshua Bell, in a subway station in Washington DC one rush hour morning to see if people would notice him. Mostly, they didn’t.

Just over one thousand people passed him in 43 minutes. A handful stopped; 27 commuters handed over $32.17; and exactly one person recognized the violinist and his Stradivari-made instrument. Said Mr. Bell, "I was stressing a little." (More music stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X