World-class violin brings beauty to Jewish spaces

A world-class violin, worth an estimated $20 million, will soon sing inside two of Australia’s most storied Jewish buildings, kicking off the 2026 season of Live At Yours.

This March, Sergej Krylov makes his Australian debut in concerts at the Great Synagogue Sydney and Melbourne’s Toorak Synagogue, performing alongside acclaimed Australian pianist Konstantin Shamray. Krylov will be performing on of of the world’s most valuable Stradivari violins — the 1710 “Camposelice”.

The Camposelice itself carries extraordinary history. More than 300 years old and often described as priceless, the Camposelice Stradivari is currently on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation. Speaking previously to The Strad, Krylov described the violin’s sound as rich, resonant and almost human, almost like a dialogue with the soul, and “nothing short of extraordinary”.

That idea of dialogue sits at the heart of these evenings. Rather than a formal concert, Live at Yours concerts are designed as immersive experiences within the architecture of the synagogues themselves. Mood lighting highlights the buildings’ historic details, guests are invited to bring drinks from the in-house gin bar to their seats, and from the bimah, the musicians speak directly to the audience, sharing stories and reflections on the all-French program, and opening the floor for questions.

It is a format that feels unmistakably Jewish; it’s music as conversation.

The timing is also significant. In the aftermath of the shocking Bondi attack, many in the Jewish community have been searching for ways to come together that feel uplifting rather than heavy. These concerts offer precisely that: an evening shaped not by fear or grief, but by warmth, creativity and shared humanity. For Sydney audiences, the evening carries an added emotional resonance, as the concert takes place just metres from where protests were recently held against Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

For Live at Yours founder Vladimir Fanshil, the concerts are both an artistic milestone and a statement of cultural confidence.

“I’m thrilled to be opening our sixth season with the first of three international artists we’re bringing to Australia this year,” Fanshil told The AJN. “Sergej isn’t just a mind-bending virtuoso — he’s a deeply sensitive musician who communicates with absolute sincerity. To hear him live, on a 1710 Stradivari, inside the architectural marvels of the Great and Toorak synagogues is something that can only be experienced in person. It’s the kind of evening that lingers long after the final note.”

In Melbourne, the performance also launches Live at Yours’ first subscription series, positioning Toorak Synagogue as an unexpected new cultural hub for both Jewish and wider artistic communities.

Beyond Sydney and Melbourne, the tour extends to the Castlemaine State Festival and South Australia’s UKARIA Cultural Centre, taking the experience to regional audiences as well.

During the tour, Krylov will also lead violin masterclasses for emerging musicians.

“At a time when things feel heavy,” Fanshil said, “this is how we choose unity, beauty and life — opening our doors, standing in our own spaces, and inviting others in through something deeply human: music.”

Sergej Krylov x Konstantin Shamray is at Toorak Shule in Melbourne on March 10, followed by the Great Synagogue in Sydney on March 11-12. For tickets, visit liveatyours.com.au