80 million dollar concert hall, 30 million dollars worth of violins, and I am listening to it on a phone speaker that probably cost 10 cents. I may be missing out on some of the awesomeness.

Isn't it cool to think that the strads were both made in the same year, but they had traveled from different regions, been handled by different people from different ages, and been played in different weather, and now it falls under Brett and Eddy's care. Both of them are now in the same place, weather, and will be played in front of the same audience-together. :"))

If you're playing a Stradivarius in a concert hall with Chloe Chua while wearing a Gucci Belt... you've made it.

I love that Chloe Chua seems sort of like their little sister, yet also their teacher and mentor. It's just so wholesome.

Imagine them going from being in Uni making covers of movie themes to performing a concert in front of thousands of people with Golden Age Strads! This is amazing!

Pieces played: 1:26 Navarra - Sarasate 1:44 Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto 2:35 Prokofiev Violin Concerto no. 1 3:42 Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso Saint-Saëns 5:43 Mendelssohn Violin Concerto opening 7:20 Meditation - Thaïs 9:04 Zigeneurweisen Opening 11:23 Sibelius Violin Concerto 2nd movement In case I missed one, please correct me!!

After telling my dad about this video, he told me a story that shocked me (tldr, he actually held a strad when he didn't even know how to play or own a violin) Story time: When my dad was in college, he went to a museum with some of his friends. He met this girl at the museum who was a music major and wanted to be a violin teacher, but she needed experience before she could start charging money for lessons. So her and my dad made a deal where he would get free lessons and she would get teaching experience (at this point, my dad didn't even own a violin and had to order a $75 violin-bow combo from China). So when my dad was at the lessons, he was practicing the beginner things with his teachers violin, and when he was at home, he practiced posture with whatever he could substitute for a violin and bow. When he was at the lessons, he noticed the violin was pretty old and was a little damaged, but when his teacher played it, it sounded absolutely incredible. So when he asked about it, the teacher told him this little story: Her dad gave her two options as a graduation gift: either the purchase and restoration of this old violin or a down payment on a house. She picked the violin. She then said to my dad "Thats a Stradivarius violin" while he was practicing finger positions. His mouth went completely dry and he (very carefully) handed the violin back to the teacher and said "I shouldn't be allowed to touch this". So yes, my dad actually held a slightly damaged and restored Strad in his hands.

Sometimes I forget that these guys are more than the funny guys on KZfaq. Being able to be loaned freaking Stradivari, being able to hang out with Chloe Chua, having a Gucci belt and expensive watch, playing in an orchestra, being able to just use a concert hall to test out acoustics... Like Jesus man. These guys are living the ling ling life.

It’s weird how you can imagine the looks and personalities of these strads if they were people/characters. Like Empress Catarina’s the charismatic and extroverted princess, and the Regent’s the wise mysterious shop owner

I was chatting with my friend the other day about how you guys totally deserve to play on the Strads. Haters might say that, "they are not good enough, they got it just because of their popularity online". But the truth is, they got to play the Strads first because they are *legit professional violinists* who are GOOD on the violin and can play the Strads well (acknowledged by multiple top-tier soloists and professionals), and also because their contribution to classical music is huge. They bring so many people (myself included) into the classical music world and discover how beautiful classical music is. They are always passionate and sincere toward classical music but at the same time, they are creative and know how to use technology to spread their influence. They are really an important part of the classical music world and that's why they deserve to be respected! You don't have to love them or be their fan, but their talent, hardwork, and contribution shouldn't be denied.

Empress Catarina sounded very theatrical and had a demanding presence, while the Regent has a more melodious, subdued sound. The names definitely suit them :)

Whoever named those two violins, that person is a genius. The names really suit their sounds respectively.

Thank you Tarisio for loaning them such beautiful, historical and absolutely EPIC instruments!!!

Today we witnessed the birth of TwoStradViolin 🙏

I love how Chloe was just there lol, yknow as you do, having a violin prodigy with you casually

The empress genuinely sounds like it’s SINGING and the regent sounds like an atmosphere

0:38 shout out to Carlos and Tarisio for making this possible and making their 4M milestone so much more special and unforgettable 🥰🥰🥰

As if receiving two historical violins and going into a concert hall to try them out wasn’t enough of a flex, you guys just randomly pull out goddamn Chloe Chua to be in the video too!! This is so exciting to see, I can’t wait for Mendelssohn. When Brett played Tchaikovsky, the sound just cut me so deep, it sounds so amazing. I hope you guys can share tons of your playing with the Strads while you can!

I love when Chloe shows up in a twoset video, she always has such great insight into their playing. You can really tell that they've been practicing, not only the tone but their confidence is a lot higher.

Haters gonna hate. They deserve to play Strads. Though they still can't be compared to their world class friends, but the effort and hard works is there and paid off. For someone who graduated from a small university, they have come so far. They have taught themselves and practiced by themselves to be able to play better. I respect them for that. And they finally developed their own sounds. It's still a long way for their sounds to be easily recognised like the world class violinists, but now you clearly tell apart their sounds. They still have room to improve. I hope they will keep practicing hard even after Mendelssohn concert. They deserve to be where they are.

The Caterina violin sounds very powerful, like a scream of “This is me, and I’m never gonna change for anyone!” The Regent sounds pretty sweet and like a crying human voice …

Chloe's presence was as much unexpected for me as it was welcome, she always makes me smile. Are you taking lessons from her? You guys have ticked off all the list! Stradivarius, world-famous concert hall, solo piece, top-class teacher!

The Regent does have a more melodic, mellow, expressive sound. BUT, when Brett was playing on the G string, the Catarina blew me away with the sheer depth and richness of tone. Amazing.

I love how we're seeing Chloe grow up huahuahua also, the way TSV act towards her, it's ridiculously wholesome ❤️ Congratulations, guys, you make history for classical music in a extremely fast and mutable environment, where the classic is constantly treated as obsolete, you guys prove to millions of people that classical musical is still relevant and not necessarily elitist or (the blasphemy) boring. You guys are receiving the fruits of such important contribution. Hope you'll continue getting success and happiness in your lives.

As someone who has broken two glass objects in a row, i would be scared of going within a 10 metre radius of those strads (nonetheless im so proud of you guys)

I'm a flautist, so the only knowledge I have about violins comes from these two. But even I as a total novice can recognize how beautiful the Strads look. The marbling of the wood is just gorgeous.

I remember seeing them years ago on KZfaq, amazed and shocked by a progedy who owned or rented an unbelievably expensive violin. And they made it their mission to learn the piece he played. And then did it. Now they have played countless concerts and are holding some of the most expensive violins in the world. I am proud of you both.

I am glad that in the end Brett decided to play on Empress Caterina for the Mendelssohn concert. He sounded amazing and it seemed to suit him perfectly

The Regent, Superb sounds like a memory, nostalgic. The Empress Caterina sounds in the moment, full of energy. They both tell a story at different stages of recounting. Goosebumps for sure!

the moment that brett was like "damn, that's my best friend" just made my heart squeeze

That empress Caterina is just so smooth, like a buttery caramel idk how else to describe it. It blows my mind that there are really people who cannot hear the difference between these two instruments

Just realized that Brett has very nice voice, it sounds so good when he is speaking in the concert hall

I agree that Regent fits Brett's personality perfectly. It's warm, sweet, and has more strength to it. Also Strads' projection is really on another level wow. Good luck on your concert!!

I’m incredibly thankful to Tarisio and Esplanade! I can’t believe me a non-musician actually heard the difference…

“What don’t you play the run?” I love the look of of death Brett gives him 🤣🤣🤣 Followed by BAM 💥 “the run” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

What a journey! Seriously, someone needs to make it into manga and anime. You two are the perfect picture of underdog heroes who never doubts your own dreams and continues to hone your skills with many years of practice. After countless trial and error, thousands of videos, progress and seatback along the way, you have finally found the momentum to show all your hard work in a majestic concert with not only 1, but 2! 300+ years Stradivarius Violin. Not to mention how much impact you have on classical music in general for the younger generation. You connect a lot of people with the same passion for classical music and--somehow--still make it relatable to non-musicians as well. Good job and good luck. You deserve it, Guys!

I love the community of professionals that have gathered around you - Hillary, Ray, Chloe, plus your amazing friends that you've done the games with. Great little family.

Man, the sound of the Regent is just so... _nice_ . Not that Caterina sounds bad or anything, obviously, but there's just something about the Regent that is pure chef's kiss.

This was one of the best demonstrations of Stradivari violins I've ever seen. I'm very familiar with your playing, and that made the difference more striking. Both instruments have so much character of their own, watching them be played is like watching a duet. I can see/hear a conversation going on between instrument and player. It's truly fantastic.

My god, this is beautiful. Scattered thoughts: - These two violins differ in what you can do with them, how they respond to that, and what they want you to do with them. Takes a great player to show what they can do. - Brett and Eddy are both great players, and doing a gorgeous job of bringing out these violins' character. - Actually 300+ years, not just 200. 1708 to 2022, so they're 314 years old. Pi centuries old... - I love Brett and Eddy's sheer reverence toward these instruments and the music made with them, and the active form that that reverence takes. - Jeez those guys can play. - "Brett and Eddy play priceless historic violins" is the perfect combination of TwoSet schtick and glorious Brett&Eddy music. I love it. - I love how they both adapt their playing to each violin. - I'd love for Brett and Eddy to get longer-term loans of instruments like these, though probably not these exact instruments. - Strads and similar are mostly in large collections now (I think). Does that mean that when the collectors want to offer one for long-term loan to a top player, they bring the player in to try out the entire collection and find which instrument suits them best? They totally should. See also a previous video in which Brett or Eddy (can't remember which) seemed better suited to another instrument (Guarnerius?) than to a Strad. Bonus if multiple collectors got together to do this.

eddie with the gucci belt SERIOUSLY THO the amount of response both violins bring out in the two of you-- both while playing and watching the other play. its feels like a mix of critical analysis and fond appreciation. you've probably heard each other practice enough times to pick out their sound in room full of soloists, but i cant imagine what kind of novelty it brought out being in a concert hall with strads

I love how they immediately compare the Strads to bubble tea. 🤣🤣

The Empress Catarina feels more commanding while the Regent feels more somber, more suited to a melancholic piece. If we were talking chamber music, I'd go for the Regen as well. I do feel the way the Regent curls around and envelops.

Chloe Chua gives off *strong* John Wick vibes... like, I genuinely think she'd carve her way through a Russian Nightclub with a box of pencils. No problem. 🖤

The Regent sounds like it knows the depths of humanity. The Empress is a diva!

I'm feeling baroque just by looking at those beautiful Strads 😭 PS: Both playing on them got me goosebumps, so, so good! Congrats again, Twoset. Can’t wait for Mendelssohn next month ❤

You know your instrument is fire when you give yourself goosebumps. 🔥

Brett really stepped up his game, he must have invested countless hours practicing recently. He sounds so impressive!

Just the moment when they start to play the Strads, I can feel the focus and joy from their eyes!! Like Eddy's eyes are so bright when he listens to Brett play and Brett just look super concentrated and cautious!! And Chloe, she just grow into a beautiful and elegant young lady! Can't wait to hear you guys play longer (games lol /jk but not /jk) on this violin!! Cangratz again on this milestone achievement!!!

Sooo many surprises in one video!!! The strads, Esplanade, Chloe Sensei.... What a treat.

Hearing y'all play these Strads is effing god tier. The notes were vibrating the at the crown of my head. I suffer from clinical depression w/ anxiety, and just hearing the notes resonate puts me in another world. Thank you TwoSet, for reminding me that classical music heals the psyche. Whoever see's this you're allowed to use this as a psychology statistic for your research!

It would have been wonderful to hear Chloe play as well 😢😊 thank you for sharing this experience…beautiful

Two Strads and a Chloe? Perfection 👌

The entire video is a delight, from the instruments, to the reaction of the two of you and to add the cream on top, SUDDEN CHLOE!

The first time I heard a golden age violín, I was 15 and heard someone play Tzigane and some other great piece and I literally passed out in my seat hearing the violín. I didn’t know that level of emotional response was possible but it happened and I will never forget it. One day we will not get to hear these instruments so consider yourself lucky if you hear one in personw🎉

The Empress Caterina sounds like the fragrance of the sweetest flowers mixed with the flavor of wild honey, sweet and soprano. The Regent, Superb has deeper tone, like the best Belgian chocolate. It sounded wonderful in G.

I love how they have the reach at this point to just invoke strads for their performance and invoke a violin prodigy to tell them which strad sounds better!

As a non-musician and a visual-dominated person, I'm grateful of how they described the sound in a way that I can understand and appreciate. It helped me a lot to love music even more.

Just watch them and you'll quickly understand why Tarisio was willing to loan them the Strads. These gentlemen treat the instruments with such dignity and respect. I am certain the Strads are as happy being played by Eddy and Brett as they are playing them.

I think the Regent Superb has a smooth, silky gloss to it that coats every note with a buttery connectedness, while Empress Caterina has a more vibrant brilliance and flashiness.

To me the regent sounded melancholy and the empress was confident.

Wow the strads absolutely sing! Brett sounds so good on both of them, but especially the regent. I think because he generally plays with a fuller and rounder tone, he's really able to bring out the character of the regent. On the other hand, Eddy sounded better on the Empress Catarina because he generally presses more when he plays and that allows him to really bring out the power of it.

9:44 why so cute

TwoStradViolin

Thank you Tarisio for lending these beautiful instruments to Brett and Eddy. Our ears thank you

I love how happy they both appear to be throughout the entire video. The passion for the instruments and music really shows. I’m glad they’re doing what they love and sharing it with all of us.

Chloe grown so much i almost didn't recognize her ! Keep up the good work guys, enjoy strads :)

I think the Regent, Superb has more character, more dynamic in the higher ranges, more opportunity to be expressive. The Caterina's high end sustains unusually well and carries well in the hall, it's sweet, has brightness and tremendous volume and it's voice is unmistakable in the high range. We're always treated to the Caterina's very well balanced overtone series on the E string and we come to expect that. The Caterina persuades you to admire it's consistency in the high ranges, where the Regent dares you to inspect its qualities in the high range. The Caterina might prove difficult, or frustrating to find unique opportunities to exploit a richer character in it's upper range. The Caterina might have more opportunities for nuance and character in it's lower range, and you'll have to work hard for that. The Regent's lower range is predictable, just a mind blowingly, perfectly balanced overtone series, much like the Caterina's high range. The Caterina is probably more appropriate for the Mendelssohn. Thanks for the wonderful study of these two instruments.

The Empress suits Eddy and the Regent suits Brett better. It's wild how different the sound is. Such an honor...i would never even touch one, I'd be terrified of scratching it 😅

Thank you, BAE & Chloe 🤩🤩🤩 for inviting all viewers to experience a pair of the famous 1708 Strads with you! And a special thanks to Tarisio and Esplanade Theatres on the Bay (Happy 20th Birthday) for helping TSV to press forward with accomplishing their mission to "make classical music relevant today". 🎼🎵🎶🌐🎻🎻 Empress Caterina is my favorite because it's like an 8 cylinder engine that can be used on cruise control to take it nice and easy yet has the ability to open up and take you quickly to a whole new level of emotional sounds that can pierce your soul leaving a lasting impression. Although I agree whole heartedly that the Regent, Superb has a sweet introverted sound (very intimate and delicate, lovely) my only concern during the actual concert is the house will be filled with people and their clothing, which has a tendency to absorb the sound that is projected from the performer and orchestra. So it is truly up to the soloist to play the instrument in a way that conveys their interpretation of the selected piece of music on the instrument they've chosen. I have 💯 absolute confidence in Brett & Eddy to create one of the sweetest beautiful moments in classical music history that shall leave a powerful positive impact in our hearts and an eternal impression for all souls to love, admire, learn from, & cherish. Loveable living legends! 🥰🥰 So incredibly proud of you, BAE! 🤩🤩🙌🏽🙌🏽💯💯👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 LOVE Y'ALL! 🤗💕🫂🤗

This is amazing to watch and listen! My friend always says, "You don't choose the violin, but the violin chooses you," and I got the sense what it might mean in this process of trying out and listening to each violin's response. I love this episode, full of your excitement and enthusiasm!!

This episode should be called TwoStradViolins. YAY!

We need a countdown for this 😂 Sounds stressful for them but exciting for all of us including them, they say they’re happy that we’re all here to support them! They’re at 3.86 mil now!!!

You can tell Eddy REALLY wants to play the empress Catalina for the concert haha

The Regent Superb was so much more haunting, i think that was my favourite, such a treat to hear you try out what they can do and compare, very nice!

i love how eddy and brett can only communicate either comparing violins or bubble tea language lolol

From what I hear in the video, the Caterina definitely has a more bold and explosive sound, especially on the G string. But the Regent delivers its sound in a much more elegant way. Either way, they both sound incredible and we’re so proud of you guys 🥹

1:25 - thank you TwoSet for indulging us in such beautiful playing 🙏🏽 but fr this is so exciting, can’t wait for the 16th

I hate to appear overly sentimental, but as a non player I am totally overwhelmed by the sounds you guys are producing, even when testing out priceless instruments. Two emotions: joy and yearning. Thanks for teaching me so much and sharing your remarkable skills. I can't get enough. Take care...

Twoset Violin ❌ TwoStrad Violin ✅

I've been watching you guys since you had like 100k subscribers. I cant believe how much you've grown. I am so unbelievably proud of you guys 😭

It’s true. The sound is so different. Big, open, huge range and pure. I think the secret of the Stradivarius is that it steals the essence of every musician who plays it and when you play it, the sound of every great master has become part of the instrument. You gain from that and you contribute to the next person who plays it, becoming part of the instrument.

The beauty and perfection of sound you both make on the violins makes me (76 yr old musician) grateful that I can appreciate this so thoroughly and it just makes me feel GREAT!

You two crack me up. My eyebrows furrowed at first when you began your video with horsing around and cutting up. But you gave honor to the Strads with this video with your expert playing and thoughtful analyses. Thanks.

I am so pleased that Tarisio loaned them two Strads so they both get the experience of playing such a fine instrument. I hope Carlos is proud come November. I know they won't disappoint!

TwoSet Never Disappoints us with their Content :)

Brett's playing at 7:22 made me burst into tears. So. Gorgeous. Bravo!

Thanks for the opportunity to hear two Strads and the discussion about the different character of the instruments. It's so true that the quality of an instrument can make you a better player. I was never a musician but played an instrument in school and for a while at Uni. A few times I got to use instruments that were reserved for post grads getting performance degrees. I could hardly believe it was me.

I really hope Brett chooses the Regent Superb. He'll definitely have to spend more time discovering the instrument, but it should yield big results due to this effort. I can't wait for the live stream!

"TwoStrads Violin" sounds a lot more elegant than i thought to be honest XD

Interesting to re-watch after the concert. It's clear from this that Eddy really preferred the Regent, while Brett really preferred the Caterina - and each played his preferred violin in the concert.

I love the sound the Regent makes. It's interesting that these 2 have such different sounds even to my untrained ear.

I also think that the Regent fits Brett, as well as the Mendelssohn, better. Both sounded amazing though so you can't go wrong either way! So excited for the concert 💕 I wish I could hear the violins in person. I'm sure that the video isn't doing them justice!

The Express Catarina reminds me of a charismatic “pirate” princess standing on a balcony. For me, I hear this almost “swashbuckling,” wild, but royal streak on it. I would personify the Regent as a deep, mysterious, charming prince. Someone coy and elegant. Also, something very intelligent and botox or. It knows what it’s doing. There’s this richness and fullness that it just has. It’s beautiful, really. A little sneaky and charming honestly. I played violin for two years and quit after that, but the distinguishing features of each instrument stand out noticibly. They’re honestly both so beautiful. Personally, I prefer the Regent. It has that extra richness, that depth, and oomph I like.

Me, already happy and impressed that you got to play with Strads but then you had to go flex on us some more and summon Chloe Sensei out of thin air. Sensei, it's been far to long since you've come, we have missed you

Oh this is the kind of video I love: TwoSet plays and discusses Strads and the music they make. The Tarisio episode was a favorite and now this one is too. Thank you so much for the excitement and beauty.🎉

Honestly, this video left me quite emotional. It's always amazing to see how far they've come but in videos like these, it really hits more. Like playing freaking Golden Age Strads in a gigantic concert hall?!?! Soo proud of them😭😭 Brett's Mendelssohn sounds spectacular already and I cannot wait for their concert, definitely will be one of the highlights of my year!!

"this one is more like RAWRR 😡 and this one is more like aaa 🥺"

TwoSet are always worth watching; but this is the sort of serious but unpretentious approach to the violin that teaches me so much.

oh wow Chloe grew up so fast, she's so prettyyy 😍