The history of J & A Beare has always been interwoven with the world of music. Scroll through over 150 years of history to see how, time and time again, the two have come together.
1865
1865
John Beare (1847-1928) begins dealing in musical instruments.
1870
Russian Count Wilhorsky presents Karl Davidov with a very fine 1712 cello by Antonio Stradivari. The player, described by Tchaikovsky as the “tzar of cellists”, receives the instrument as a birthday present.
1885
Eugène Ysaÿe, a favourite student of Henry Vieuxtemps, purchases a fine violin by Guarneri del Gesù dated 1741. The same violin will later be carried behind him at his funeral procession in 1931.
1892
The company establishes itself as Beare, Goodwin & Son. At the turn of the century, it will change its name to John & Arthur Beare.
1912
J & A Beare forms a historic partnership with the Royal Academy of Music with the founding of the Beare’s Bow Prize, a tradition that continues to this day.
1926
J & A Beare moves its premises to No. 179 Wardour Street.
1927
Yehudi Menuhin makes his debut performance at Carnegie Hall at the age of 11, playing a violin by Giovanni Grancino.
1936
The 1713 'Gibson' violin by Antonio Stradivari belonging to Bronislaw Huberman, is stolen backstage from Carnegie Hall.
1945
Nathan Milstein, the Ukranian-born American virtuoso who studied with Eugène Ysaÿe, purchases through J & A Beare a fine 1716 violin by Antonio Stradivari, the ‘Goldman’.
1963
J & A Beare, instructed by an anonymous patron to find an instrument for Jacqueline du Pré, sources the very fine 1712 'Davidov' cello by Antonio Stradivari.
1978
Following Beare's expansion in the 60’s and 70’s, the firm moves into the premises of the old Bricklayers Arms pub on the corner of Broadwick Street and Duck Lane, still in the heart of Soho, the same pub where The Rolling Stones had their first rehearsal.
1985
After being lost for over 50 years, the 1713 'Gibson, Huberman' Stradivari violin is rediscovered. J & A Beare confirms its authenticity, restores it to its former glory and subsequently enables its acquisition by Norbert Brainin, the leader of the Amadeus Quartet.
1987
J & A Beare sponsors the 250th anniversary exhibition of Antonio Stradivari’s work in Cremona.
1988
The 1712 'Davidov' cello by Antonio Stradivari is loaned to Yo-Yo Ma.
1998
J & A Beare merges with the rapidly growing firm of Morris & Smith based near the Southbank.
2000
J & A Beare acquires new premises at 30 Queen Anne Street, Marylebone, near the famous Wigmore Hall.
2001
Joshua Bell purchases the famously stolen 1713 'Gibson, Huberman' Stradivari violin through J & A Beare. The firm sold it on behalf of the previous owner, Norbert Brainin.
2003
Mstislav Rostropovich purchases through J & A Beare, an exceptional cello by Pietro Guarneri of Venice.
2006
Californian philanthropist Jerry Kohl acquires the 1716 'Milstein, Goldman' Stradivari violin through J & A Beare. The instrument is later given on loan to Martin Chalifour, principal concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
2008
J & A Beare receives the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for its international trade activity: the only fine arts and antique business to ever have received the award.
2011
The Beare's International Violin Society is founded. The society connects talented musicians with patrons who give them the opportunity to play on some of the world’s finest instruments.
2012
Simon Morris and Steven Smith become joint owners of J & A Beare, after buying back Charles Beare’s shares to enable his retirement from the firm after a long and distinguished career.
2012
J & A Beare sells the 1741 'Vieuxtemps' violin by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù, setting the world record price for any stringed instrument. The violin will be later loaned to Anne-Akiko Meyers for lifetime use.
2013
J & A Beare sponsors the Ashmolean Stradivari Exhibition. The exhibition explores Stradivari’s life and work and displays twenty of the most important instruments in the world, some of which have never before been displayed in public.
2014
J & A Beare establishes a cooperative partnership with the Kronberg Academy, lending fine instruments to the academy's most talented students through the Beare’s International Violin Society.
2014
J & A Beare is appointed as the Honorary Fine Instrument Advisor to the Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain.
2016
J & A Beare sponsors the 2016 Menuhin Competition in London, 89 years after Yehudi Menuhin made his debut at Carnegie Hall.
2017
J & A Beare celebrates its 125th anniversary with a concert at the Wigmore Hall featuring Steven Isserlis and students of the Kronberg Academy.
2017
J & A Beare acquires the historical archives of violin dealers W. E. Hill & Sons.
2018
The Beare's Premiere Music Festival of Hong Kong is established. The festival is the largest of its kind in the city.
2019
J & A Beare establishes J & A Beare Europe GmbH in Germany to accommodate the growing demand in the continent for its expertise.
2021
Simon Morris steps down as Co-Managing Director.
2021
Steven Smith brings together twelve of the finest Stradivari violins for Janine Jansen to record a once-in-a-lifetime album '12 Stradivari' in partnership with Decca Classics.
2021
Steven Smith's '12 Stradivari' project is recorded in a documentary titled 'Janine Jansen: Falling for Stradivari' by BAFTA winning director, Gerald Fox
2021
Beare's Chamber Music is founded by Steven Smith and music educator Jacky Woods, offering weekly training in small-ensemble music making to talented string musicians aged 11-18.
2022
J & A Beare celebrates its 130th anniversary with a Chamber Music festival culminating in a sold-out all-Stradivari performance in Cadogan Hall with artists Janine Jansen, the Quatuor Ébène, Alexander Sitkovetsky, Timothy Ridout, Kian Soltani, Denis Kozhukhin and Igudesman & Joo.
2025
1865
John Beare (1847-1928) begins dealing in musical instruments.
1870
Russian Count Wilhorsky presents Karl Davidov with a very fine 1712 cello by Antonio Stradivari. The player, described by Tchaikovsky as the “tzar of cellists”, receives the instrument as a birthday present.
1885
Eugène Ysaÿe, a favourite student of Henry Vieuxtemps, purchases a fine violin by Guarneri del Gesù dated 1741. The same violin will later be carried behind him at his funeral procession in 1931.
1892
The company establishes itself as Beare, Goodwin & Son. At the turn of the century, it will change its name to John & Arthur Beare.
1912
J & A Beare forms a historic partnership with the Royal Academy of Music with the founding of the Beare’s Bow Prize, a tradition that continues to this day.
1926
J & A Beare moves its premises to No. 179 Wardour Street.
1927
Yehudi Menuhin makes his debut performance at Carnegie Hall at the age of 11, playing a violin by Giovanni Grancino.
1936
The 1713 'Gibson' violin by Antonio Stradivari belonging to Bronislaw Huberman, is stolen backstage from Carnegie Hall.
1945
Nathan Milstein, the Ukranian-born American virtuoso who studied with Eugène Ysaÿe, purchases through J & A Beare a fine 1716 violin by Antonio Stradivari, the ‘Goldman’.
1963
J & A Beare, instructed by an anonymous patron to find an instrument for Jacqueline du Pré, sources the very fine 1712 'Davidov' cello by Antonio Stradivari.
1978
Following Beare's expansion in the 60’s and 70’s, the firm moves into the premises of the old Bricklayers Arms pub on the corner of Broadwick Street and Duck Lane, still in the heart of Soho, the same pub where The Rolling Stones had their first rehearsal.
1985
After being lost for over 50 years, the 1713 'Gibson, Huberman' Stradivari violin is rediscovered. J & A Beare confirms its authenticity, restores it to its former glory and subsequently enables its acquisition by Norbert Brainin, the leader of the Amadeus Quartet.
1987
J & A Beare sponsors the 250th anniversary exhibition of Antonio Stradivari’s work in Cremona.
1988
The 1712 'Davidov' cello by Antonio Stradivari is loaned to Yo-Yo Ma.
1998
J & A Beare merges with the rapidly growing firm of Morris & Smith based near the Southbank.
2000
J & A Beare acquires new premises at 30 Queen Anne Street, Marylebone, near the famous Wigmore Hall.
2001
Joshua Bell purchases the famously stolen 1713 'Gibson, Huberman' Stradivari violin through J & A Beare. The firm sold it on behalf of the previous owner, Norbert Brainin.
2003
Mstislav Rostropovich purchases through J & A Beare, an exceptional cello by Pietro Guarneri of Venice.
2006
Californian philanthropist Jerry Kohl acquires the 1716 'Milstein, Goldman' Stradivari violin through J & A Beare. The instrument is later given on loan to Martin Chalifour, principal concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
2008
J & A Beare receives the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for its international trade activity: the only fine arts and antique business to ever have received the award.
2011
The Beare's International Violin Society is founded. The society connects talented musicians with patrons who give them the opportunity to play on some of the world’s finest instruments.
2012
Simon Morris and Steven Smith become joint owners of J & A Beare, after buying back Charles Beare’s shares to enable his retirement from the firm after a long and distinguished career.
2012
J & A Beare sells the 1741 'Vieuxtemps' violin by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù, setting the world record price for any stringed instrument. The violin will be later loaned to Anne-Akiko Meyers for lifetime use.
2013
J & A Beare sponsors the Ashmolean Stradivari Exhibition. The exhibition explores Stradivari’s life and work and displays twenty of the most important instruments in the world, some of which have never before been displayed in public.
2014
J & A Beare establishes a cooperative partnership with the Kronberg Academy, lending fine instruments to the academy's most talented students through the Beare’s International Violin Society.
2014
J & A Beare is appointed as the Honorary Fine Instrument Advisor to the Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain.
2016
J & A Beare sponsors the 2016 Menuhin Competition in London, 89 years after Yehudi Menuhin made his debut at Carnegie Hall.
2017
J & A Beare celebrates its 125th anniversary with a concert at the Wigmore Hall featuring Steven Isserlis and students of the Kronberg Academy.
2017
J & A Beare acquires the historical archives of violin dealers W. E. Hill & Sons.
2018
The Beare's Premiere Music Festival of Hong Kong is established. The festival is the largest of its kind in the city.
2019
J & A Beare establishes J & A Beare Europe GmbH in Germany to accommodate the growing demand in the continent for its expertise.
2021
Simon Morris steps down as Co-Managing Director.
2021
Steven Smith brings together twelve of the finest Stradivari violins for Janine Jansen to record a once-in-a-lifetime album '12 Stradivari' in partnership with Decca Classics.
2021
Steven Smith's '12 Stradivari' project is recorded in a documentary titled 'Janine Jansen: Falling for Stradivari' by BAFTA winning director, Gerald Fox
2021
Beare's Chamber Music is founded by Steven Smith and music educator Jacky Woods, offering weekly training in small-ensemble music making to talented string musicians aged 11-18.
2022
J & A Beare celebrates its 130th anniversary with a Chamber Music festival culminating in a sold-out all-Stradivari performance in Cadogan Hall with artists Janine Jansen, the Quatuor Ébène, Alexander Sitkovetsky, Timothy Ridout, Kian Soltani, Denis Kozhukhin and Igudesman & Joo.
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