Linzi Stoppard And Swarovski Violin Breaks World Record

Linzi Stoppard of FUSE said, “ These violins are incredible, just stunning “ the light explodes off the Swarovski crystals. We love the fact that whilst they have become pieces of art, we can still play the songs from our new album ˜FUSE' on them.

The FUSE violin duo and Swarovski Crystal joined forces to create the world's most expensive pair of electric violins ever made setting a new World Record! Each FUSE Signature Swarovski violins is worth over $1,500,000.

FUSE are virtuoso violinists Linzi Stoppard, former model and daughter-in-law of Sir Tom Stoppard, and Ben Lee, the 2-time Fastest Violin Player in the world Guinness World Record holder. Linzi and Ben formed this dynamic violin duo in 2008.

Both classically trained for the age of 4 and 5 respectively Linzi and Ben explored the boundaries of the acoustic violin but both by different routes decided the electric variation of the instrument was where they wanted to be.

At the time classical cross-over was just being born, it was the natural extension for the acoustic instrument but it wasn't long before both of these world leading musicians coincidentally decided the boundaries needed to be pushed.

More and more violinists were switching to cross-over and ultimately ended up performing the same unimaginative music. this was too mundane for Linzi and Ben and hence lead to their fortuitous meeting.

Linzi had carved herself a special niche performing around the world at A-list events with her dance/club variation of the cross-over sound and within a short few months was in global demand. But her passion lay more towards the world of rock.

However the instrument of choice for rock music was the guitar but Linzi was convinced the violin could be as versatile as the more common place guitar.

In order to really prove the impossible Linzi knew two was better than one to produce the harmonies, light and dark, arrangements and of course the performance necessary to accompany this more dynamic, high impact and ultimately more powerful musical direction. Welcome Ben Lee.

Ben had come from the indie session world, he was the first pick for cool bands who wanted to add the string flavour to their tracks. He was also the "fastest fingers" at the Royal College which would come to prominence later in FUSE's meteoric rise.

Ben understood the value of affecting the violin sound that Linzi was after, taking it away from the monotone drown other violin acts were using.

Linzi and Ben locked themselves away rehearsal rooms, beg and borrowing whatever equipment they could lay their hands on to develop a sound that was way beyond anything before.

After two or three months of experimenting with guitar analogue valve amps, processors and the obligatory digital wizardry the FUSE sound was born. It was fresh, exciting, high energy and took the violin to a place never heard before.

Six months later and the eponymous debut album was demoed and in the melting pot with some of the major rock labels. A deal followed shortly and FUSE were label mates with the likes of Prince, Simple Minds, The Police, Stevie Wonder and Kiss. The album is a collection of rock anthems, but Linzi and Ben's classical routes and influences are still there to be heard woven into tracks like Led Carmina, Fix You, Beat It and the lead track Glorious.

FUSE had aligned themselves with music royalty - so far such exclusive collaborations with Swarovski had been limited to artists such as Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Madonna and Taylor Swift. With this sort of exclusivity the new Swarovski Signature Violins were in need of a special introduction and where better than Harrods, the most aspirational store in the world.

Once Linzi and Ben presented their "Swarovskis" to the directors of Harrods it was forgone conclusion; they adored them. It was straight to the drawing board to organise a launch to coincide with the release of FUSE's new album.

There were many options in-store for FUSE to present their Swarovskis to the media but take one look at the Egyptian Escalator and it was clear this is where it would take place.

It is iconic within Harrods and the main artery connecting all 5 floors. FUSE revealed their Signature Violins at a media call in-store and then the instruments were displayed in a bullet proof glass case at the top of the escalator for the public to view.

Linzi Stoppard of FUSE said, œThese violins are incredible, just stunning “ the light explodes off the Swarovski crystals. We love the fact that whilst they have become pieces of art, we can still play the songs from our new album ˜FUSE' on them.

In the violin world FUSE were catapulted to a completely new level, the package was irresistible - Beautiful looking violinists, a new and modern sound, the twist on a classical instrument now clad in thousands of crystal creating a new world record in doing so, along side Ben's two Violin Speed World Records, no violin group had managed to create such a wealth of interest, angles and attention when first bursting on to the scene.

http://www.linzistoppard.net/