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When Christine Walevska was given a rare, one-eighth-size Bernardel cello at the age of eight and a half, she fell in love with the instrument immediately and it set her on a path to becoming an internationally renowned concert cellist. The tiny cello, given to her by her father, had an intriguing label on the inside.it said Pour la petite Comtesse Marie 1834 . This label would prove crucial after the cello was stolen from Christine s father s shop in 1978. It led - 36 years later - to Christine receiving an email from the Breshears family in California. They had been searching for a rare child-size cello for their gifted six-year-old daughter Starla and had finally found one. Could it be Christine s beloved Bernardel? Today, the story of a rare cello, its theft and how it shaped the dreams of two highly talented young girls.
Songs of Gratitude draws millions
Festival Napa Valleyâs online production, âSongs of Gratitude,â drew an audience of 3 million from around the world on Dec. 5.
The concert, filmed at locations throughout Napa Valley, celebrated resilience âin a year like no otherâ and the power of music âto unite and to heal.â
It included performances by pianist Audrey Vardanega, the Friction String Quartet, vocalists Kelley OâConnor and Nicholas Phan, traditional Mexican roots folk ensemble Los Cenzontles, Jookinâ dancer Ron âPrime Tymeâ Myles, cellist Starla Breshears, and chanteuse and harpist Lucinda Belle, along with a remote vocal ensemble of Napa County high school choristers.