Monthly archive
12 headlines
Source-linked reporting
dustyoldthing.com
The article discusses a centuries-old Stradivarius violin stolen 35 years ago from a Cambridge, Massachusetts reception and later returned to its rightful owners. It mentions Roman Totenberg, his daughter Nina Totenberg, Philip Johnson, and Mobius, and notes the violin’s estimated seven-figure value and a $101,000 insurance payout.
theviolinchannel.com
The Violin Channel reports the winners of the New-Formula Pirastro Tonica viola string set giveaway. Five VC members are named as winners: Christine Martin (USA), Janet Rutherford (Australia), Christina Pereira (New Zealand), Gabriel Bolduc-Gilbert (Canada), and Rose Reeder (USA).
bbc.com
Stephen Tillyer stole a 16th century viola and two 19th century bows valued at £300,000 from a London to Dover train, plus a teenage boy's rucksack. He received a six month and a three month suspended sentence, to run for 12 months, and was ordered to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £3,500 in costs.
theviolinchannel.com
The Violin Channel reports CCTV footage released by British Transport Police showing Stephen Tillyer stealing a viola valued at about £300,000 (US$470,000). The article notes the thief is Stephen Tillyer and identifies the instrument as a viola; it also mentions the value and the public release of the video.
cremonaoggi.it
The article discusses five Stradivari instruments and three Guarneri del Gesù instruments to be sold by Christie’s, with an estimated total value of around 60 million euros according to The Strad. The instruments listed include Stradivari cello du Pré (1673), Stradivari violins Rosenheim, Kocha?ski (1686), Muir–Mackenzie (1694), Muir–Mackenzie (1694), Piatti (1717), Guarneri del Gesù violin Kubelík, Von Vecsey (1728), Kathleen Parlow, Viotti (1735), and Lafont, Brodsky, Repin (1736). The pieces will be exhibited in Shanghai and Hong Kong in October and November, with a sale/ exhibition planned in New York.
indianapolismonthly.com
Joshua Bell is discussed in relation to his Stradivarius, the Gibson ex Huberman Stradivarius built by Antonio Stradivari in 1713. Bell purchased it in 2001 for nearly $4 million and estimates its value at up to $12 million.
prweb.com
Tamamo Gibbs, principal violinist of the Kansas City Symphony, has acquired a violin crafted by Eric Benning of Los Angeles. The instrument is a Stradivarius model made in 2005 in Pickerel, Wisconsin, in collaboration with Carl F. Becker. Gibbs’s husband, Mark Gibbs, recently acquired a Benning-crafted cello in 2008 made with Becker.
lfpress.com
Crozman, a London cellist, is loaned an Antonio Stradavari cello from the Canada Council’s instrument bank for three years. The instrument, dating to around 1696, is known as the Bonjour cello and was previously owned by Abel Bonjour; it is on loan along with a bow by Adam Shaw.
theviolinchannel.com
The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra announced the inaugural Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition to be held in Shanghai, China from August 14 to September 2, 2016, with a first prize of US$100,000. The event is biennial, co-chaired by Central Conservatory of Beijing and Shanghai, Vera Tsu Weilling and David Stern, with a jury including Maxim Vengerov, Zakhar Bron, Boris Kuschnir, Zhenshan Wang and Lina Yu.
slippedisc.com
The article reports Rachel Barton Pine attempting to fly from Phoenix with her 1742 Guarneri del Gesù violin; a flight attendant refused it boarding in the overhead bin, leading to the soloist and her family sleeping in the airport while awaiting another plane.
slippedisc.com
Andrew Haveron, concertmaster of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, has been loaned a 1757 Guadagnini violin purchased for him by SSO supporter Vicki Olsson. Haveron described selecting a dealer and being impressed after hearing one note.
limelight-arts.com.au
The article reports that Vicki Olsson donated a rare 1757 Guadagnini violin to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, which is now on long-term loan. Andrew Haveron played a key role in selecting the instrument after testing many violins in the UK.