In the program notes, we see that this violin concerto was written for and created by Ferdinand David, a violinist virtuoso friend of Mendelssohn. SF Symphony Concertmaster Alexander Barantschik happens to play on David's violin, the 1742 Guarnerius del Gesù, which was used to create the piece. And we wonder: does everyone who plays this concerto at Davies borrow the violin on which that music was born (Gil Shaham will play the same piece in March )? Hey, Sasha, here's my Strad', can I take your David for a ride? And such.