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The "Bad Girl" of the Violin.

Violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg. Born in Russia, she emigrated to Philadelphia with her family when she was eight so that she could attend the Curtis Institute. Later her unorthodox playing, and unconventional attire on stage earned her a reputation as the "bad girl" of classical violin. In 1994 she nearly sliced the tip of her finger off chopping onions, and after surgery and painful practicing, she returned to the stage. Sonnenberg has played with just about every major orchestra and has recorded 15 albums. She is the subject of a new documentary, "Speaking in Strings" which premiered at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival.

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Other segments from the episode on October 26, 1999

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, October 26, 1999: Interview with Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg; Review of the Dixie Chicks' album "Fly."

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Violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg

The classical musician says, now that she's established herself as an accomplished performer, she no longer feels the need to prove herself. She got her start early; her mother made sure she practiced. At nineteen, after a nine-month hiatus from the violin, she finally decided she wanted to devote her life to the instrument.

Interview
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07:01

A Violinist's Violinist.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new recording of live performances from the 1959 Salzburg Festival, including the late Erica Morini playing Mozart's Violin concerto No. 5, conducted by George Szell with the French National Radio and Television Orchestra. (on Sony)

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