by Donald Wood
Last updated: 11:27 AM ET, Thu April 18, 2019
A violinist on a Delta Air Lines flight who couldn't find overhead storage room for his instrument and didn't want to check the case performed in front of the other passengers to earn a spot for his prized possession.
According to ClassicFM.com, American-Israeli violinist Giora Schmidt was on a flight to Cincinnati when he discovered the storage compartments near him were full. Instead of trying to negotiate with other passengers, Schmidt called on a flight attendant for help.
The crew member agreed to help Schmidt find a place for his antique Italian instrument, but only if he decided to play for the other passengers in an impromptu concert. Schmidt agreed without thinking the attendant was serious, but he quickly realized he would need to play when his presence was announced over the public address system.
After the flight attendant served refreshments, Schmidt took a knee as to have the proper room for his bow and began to play Bach E major Prelude. The other passengers on the flight were thrilled by the concert and showed their appreciation.
"I then took a knee and proceeded with the Bach E major Prelude - with ear pressure and all," Schmidt told ClassicFM.com. "This was an absolute first for me. I couldn't believe how much the passengers appreciated it - filming on their phones, and with a huge round of applause at the end."
Following the showcase, the other passengers removed items from the overhead bins and placed them under their seats to make enough room for the violin to be stored safely.
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