Posted on 01/28/2014 2:37:27 PM PST by afraidfortherepublic
A rare Stradivarius violin on loan to Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Frank Almond was stolen during an armed robbery Monday night.
The instrument, known in musical circles as the Lipinski violin, was taken around 10:20 p.m. Monday in a parking lot in the rear of Wisconsin Lutheran College on W. Wisconsin Ave., police said. Almond had played a concert at Wisconsin Lutheran Monday evening as part of his Frankly Music series.
In a 2008 feature on the violin, Chicago violin dealer Stefan Hersh said the Lipinski violin was comparable in value to another Strad that sold for more than $3.5 million in a 2006 auction.
The instrument was on indefinite loan to Almond from its anonymous owners. Almond has characterized them as people with "strong ties to Milwaukee." It's a common practice in the music world for the owners of such exquisite instruments to loan them to virtuosi such as Almond.
The violin's early owners included the virtuoso Giuseppe Tartini (1692-1770), known to listeners for his "Devil's Trill" Sonata. The instrument has also belonged to Polish violinist Karol Lipinski (1790-1861), whose name has stayed attached to it.
Local music writer Elaine Schmidt, who held the instrument during a 2013 interview with Almond, described it as "light, far lighter than one would expect, and an absolutely gorgeous example of craftsmanship."
During that 2013 interview, Almond explained that the Lipinski, is "finicky" about temperature and humidity, responding differently some days than others.
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
I studied the violin (not too successfully) for 6 years in elementary and middle school. I only had a borrowed school instrument to play. I’d love to have my own instrument, although I’m a little (a lot) old to take it up again. I’d love to have one from a garage sale.
The pictures of the Lipinski look a lot like the old school insturments I played LOL. But, I’ve heard the Lipinski and it sounds a lot better.
Provenance lost.
I’m sure Mr. Almond could identify it, if found.
So you think he doesn’t care that it got stolen? For one thing, he won’t get to play it anymore. For another, no one will lend him another Stradivarius; they’ll just find some other virtuoso.
I never said that Mr. Almod doesn’t care. I’m sure that he’s devastated, as well as being frightened half out of his wits.
"My dad could play one like a Stradivarius" - Al Bundy
They threw away the case. Clearly idiots, why would they throw away the case (and probably WITH their fingerprints all over the case) if it’s such an iffy temperature sensitive instrument?
BA-WOOSH! Now that’s a man’s flush, Bud.
:-)
Where does it say that they threw away the case?
The inspector is right...have the wax analyzed.
Can I say insurance fraud
I always try to buy musical instruments at garage sales too. I don’t play.
The other possibility is that the theft was contracted by someone who simply wants to have it. They'd have to keep it secret of course, for a very long time. This would be a wealthy individual, perhaps someone who has tried to buy it in the past only to find it not for sale.
Aw man, what a shame. Playing guitar for over 10 years, this hurts on a personal level.
For anyone interested, here’s a video on the magnificent violin. . .
A Violin’s Life - The “Lipinski Stradivarius”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5Uh1BSi5dA
I only just now read the WHOLE article,from JS online, and think you’re right.I didn’t know a stun gun was used,or any of those other details.Yes, it looks like someone just Wanted it. I expect a sting operation will be assembled soon.
“For anyone interested, here’s a video on the magnificent violin. . .”
Interesting! I have to admit that normally I wouldn’t have watched that but since the state of the union is on I had time. It must be quite a thrill to play such an instrument.
On it’s way to Japan or China in a shipping container, probably.
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