Pepito's Violin
Directed By Doug Block
This is a story about a violin, a family and an island.
In 1945, Jose “Pepito” Figueroa was offered the opportunity to buy a Stradivarius violin, but he didn’t have enough money. His friend was the editor of a local newspaper, El Mundo, who published an article saying that one of Puerto Rico’s most talented musicians needed help purchasing a violin. Within two weeks, the Puerto Rican community made private contributions totaling more than $10,000, and the violin was his.
Pepito had been a child prodigy, and was one of a renowned family of classical musicians from an island not known for classical music. He and his four brothers comprised the Figueroa Quintet. They traveled the world, winning awards and playing in prestigious concert halls as soloists, as a group, and in other combinations. In Puerto Rico, there was hardly an orchestra or ensemble that didn’t count on Pepito to play first violin. He was also an esteemed teacher for over forty years. Many of Pepito’s students went on to have prestigious musical careers of their own, including four Figueroas of the next generation who often perform together as the Figueroa Quartet.
Pepito taught until his dying day, giving a final lesson from his hospital deathbed. Before he died in 1998, Pepito handed down the Stradivarius to his son, Pepe, and two nephews – the three violinists of the younger generation. They have shared it, taking turns playing it in important concerts.
On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc on Puerto Rico. The repercussions of that
powerful storm and its aftermath are still felt throughout the island. The devastation moved Pepe to
action. He called the whole family together and proposed selling the violin, now worth millions of
dollars. With his share of the proceeds, Pepe intends to repay the gift once given to his father by
supporting music in Puerto Rico. For Pepe, rebuilding the island is not only infrastructure and
electricity, but also the inspiration and joy that music can bring.
We follow the violin as the key to a full-circle story – from the people of Puerto Rico back to the people of Puerto Rico.
We follow the extraordinary family of musicians with its surprising generations of talent, and pay particular attention to the father and son relationship between Pepito and his son, Pepe.
We recount two stories of fantastic generosity. And though the Figueroa family is well-known in the world of classical music, we introduce four generations of stellar Puerto Rican classical musicians to a broad audience.
Ultimately, we offer tribute to an island still living with the aftershocks of a powerful hurricane in a celebration of generosity, talent, love and music.