INTERVIEW: DEIRDRE McQUILLANtalks to ARABELLA STEINBACHER, violinist, about her style and what she likes to wear
DESCRIBE WHAT YOU'RE WEARINGI got the black leather jacket in a Chinese street market in Beijing on a recent tour with the Philadelphia Orchestra. The dress is by the Italian designer Patrizia Pepe and the shoes are from Munich, where I live. The white leather bag is by Armani.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR VIOLINIt's by Antonio Stradivari, was made in Cremona in 1716 and it's one of the most famous instruments in the world. Unfortunately, it's not mine. It's on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation. I have it for five years and will be playing it in Dublin next week (June 16th).
WHAT ABOUT JEWELLERY?As a violinist you cannot wear much jewellery. I have to be careful that earrings are not too long; necklaces and rings are also difficult. These earrings are by Thomas Sabo and are easy to wear.
YOU TRAVEL A LOT, WHAT DO YOU WEAR?For comfort I wear dresses with leggings and Puma wedges. I don't wear jeans travelling because they're too tight.
AND FOR PERFORMANCE?I have a dressmaker in Munich, Rosamarie Gehn, who designs concert dresses for me because I gave up buying them in the shops. I have to leave my shoulders free and I can't show too much flesh. It's like doing sport, you need freedom for the arms. I get fabrics in Madrid and tend to go for soft or stiffer silks depending on the style. The Spanish still like to make dresses, a tradition that has died in Germany. I like darker shades of green, red, purple and even gold with brown. I rarely go for pink.
HOW DO FASHION AND MUSIC INTERACT?Fashion is not more important than music. But people don't only come to listen to music; they come to the concert to see something to support the music that's nice visually.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE SHOPS AND DESIGNERS?I love Emporio Armani in Munich and in Tokyo, Issey Miyake. I like Patrizia Pepe, who is based in Florence and the German designer Dorothee Schumacher. I used to buy my concert dresses in Escada but they were so expensive – one dress could cost nearly €3,000, which is why I decided to make my own. I love shopping and in Dublin, I love the little boutiques around Grafton Street.
WHAT DO YOU BUY?I love fashion and I really like dresses, but I'm not a crazy shoe addict. I mostly have the same bag because I travel so much. I tend to go for plain colours rather than prints.
WHAT ABOUT MAKE-UP?I always do my own and I take care of my skin. Crème de la Mer is expensive but it is really good. I use Furterer hair products because my hair tends to get dry from travelling.
DO YOU LOOK AFTER YOUR CLOTHES?I am completely untidy. My clothes are all over the place especially when I'm in a hotel room. I never iron because I am afraid of damaging my fingers, so I like things that don't wrinkle. If they become too wrinkled, I just donate them to the hotel.
SO HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE?Elegant in a way, but natural. Understated.
Arabella Steinbacher plays in the National Gallery, Dublin on Wednesday, with Robert Kulek on piano, as part of the Festival in Great Irish Houses. Tickets €50. See musicgreatirishhouses.com
