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Relief all round as police recover violin thought to be missing Stradivarius Relief all round as police recover violin thought to be missing Stradivarius
(7 months later)
The world’s top classical music performers and owners of rare instruments are keeping their fingers crossed that a violin that has been recovered in Milwaukee will turn out to be the stolen Lipinski Stradivarius.The world’s top classical music performers and owners of rare instruments are keeping their fingers crossed that a violin that has been recovered in Milwaukee will turn out to be the stolen Lipinski Stradivarius.
Milwaukee police have announced that they have taken into their possession a violin but had yet to confirm its identity. A reward of $100,000 had been offered for the recovery of the Strad, which has been valued at about $5m.Milwaukee police have announced that they have taken into their possession a violin but had yet to confirm its identity. A reward of $100,000 had been offered for the recovery of the Strad, which has been valued at about $5m.
The violin was grabbed on 27 January from the hands of Frank Almond, the concertmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, who was walking to his car after a performance of Messiaen. He was shot with a stun gun by an assailant who made off in a minivan with an accomplice.The violin was grabbed on 27 January from the hands of Frank Almond, the concertmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, who was walking to his car after a performance of Messiaen. He was shot with a stun gun by an assailant who made off in a minivan with an accomplice.
On Wednesday police said they had made three “high-quality arrests” of two men aged 36 and 41 and a woman aged 32, all from Milwaukee.On Wednesday police said they had made three “high-quality arrests” of two men aged 36 and 41 and a woman aged 32, all from Milwaukee.
Almond has declined any public comments since the theft on the advice of police, though he did say on his Facebook page on Thursday: “I’m told there will be a press conference this afternoon. Hoping for the best.”Almond has declined any public comments since the theft on the advice of police, though he did say on his Facebook page on Thursday: “I’m told there will be a press conference this afternoon. Hoping for the best.”
Joseph Bein of the Chicago rare instrument dealers Bein & Fushi said that were the recovery of the Strad confirmed, it would be “absolutely thrilling news for Frank, the Milwaukee Symphony, and classical music fans everywhere. Most important of all, Frank is hopefully OK and has a full recovery from this entire ordeal. I can’t imagine what he has gone through, physically, mentally, and emotionally from this attack.” Joseph Bein of the Chicago rare instrument dealers Bein & Fushi said that were the recovery of the Strad confirmed, it would be “absolutely thrilling news for Frank, the Milwaukee Symphony, and classical music fans everywhere. Most important of all, Frank is hopefully OK and has a full recovery from this entire ordeal. I can’t imagine what he has gone through, physically, mentally, and emotionally from this attack.”
Bein added: “I’m hopeful this deters any future attacks on our artists and allows them to continue to perform for audiences worldwide without constantly looking over their shoulders.”Bein added: “I’m hopeful this deters any future attacks on our artists and allows them to continue to perform for audiences worldwide without constantly looking over their shoulders.”
The loss of the Lipinski Strad – named after the Polish violinist Karol Lipinski, who owned it between about 1818 and his death in 1861 – has sent jitters across the classical music world. Top performers, who are by the nature of their work often in public with instruments worth millions of dollars, have been distressed by the violent theft, as have the owners of the rare instruments who loan them out.The loss of the Lipinski Strad – named after the Polish violinist Karol Lipinski, who owned it between about 1818 and his death in 1861 – has sent jitters across the classical music world. Top performers, who are by the nature of their work often in public with instruments worth millions of dollars, have been distressed by the violent theft, as have the owners of the rare instruments who loan them out.
The Lipinski Strad was on permanent loan to Almond from an anonymous patron. It is one of about 650 Strads still in circulation, and was built at the peak of the master craftsman Antonio Stradivari’s career in 1715.The Lipinski Strad was on permanent loan to Almond from an anonymous patron. It is one of about 650 Strads still in circulation, and was built at the peak of the master craftsman Antonio Stradivari’s career in 1715.
Bruno Price, a world-renowned expert on rare instruments based in New York, said that confirmation that the Strad had been recovered would come as a huge relief. “It would emphasise the fact that you cannot get rid of these instruments – it’s impossible to resell them – so it’s a silly crime to even try.”Bruno Price, a world-renowned expert on rare instruments based in New York, said that confirmation that the Strad had been recovered would come as a huge relief. “It would emphasise the fact that you cannot get rid of these instruments – it’s impossible to resell them – so it’s a silly crime to even try.”
Price said that it would specifically be a relief to musicians “who are only trying to lead their lives and play concerts”, and to the wealthy donors who lend the Strads. “For the sponsors who called me after the theft, their main concern was for the artists first, and their instruments second.”Price said that it would specifically be a relief to musicians “who are only trying to lead their lives and play concerts”, and to the wealthy donors who lend the Strads. “For the sponsors who called me after the theft, their main concern was for the artists first, and their instruments second.”
One of the fears that had shot through the rarified world of professional classical music was that insurance premiums would inevitably rise as a result of the theft. “It’s a struggle even now for musicians to pay the premiums on their policies,” Price said.One of the fears that had shot through the rarified world of professional classical music was that insurance premiums would inevitably rise as a result of the theft. “It’s a struggle even now for musicians to pay the premiums on their policies,” Price said.
The hope is that the arrests of local people in Milwaukee and the possible recovery of the Lipinski Strad will point to an amateur attempt to steal the instrument, squashing earlier fears that this had been an organised criminal operation carried out to order. As Price put it: “If this had been a really organised crime you would expect the instrument to be rushed to Russia or Japan, and then it would have been lost for two or three generations.” The hope is that the arrests of local people in Milwaukee and the possible recovery of the Lipinski Strad will point to an amateur attempt to steal the instrument, squashing earlier fears that this had been an organised criminal operation carried out to order. As Price put it: “If this had been a really organised crime you would expect the instrument to be rushed to Russia or Japan, and then it would have been lost for two or three generations.”