Lipiński Strad stolen

[throatybeard]

The Lipiński has been stolen from the concertmaster of the Milwaukee Orchestra, Frank Almond.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/crime/stradivarius-violin-stolen-in-armed-robbery-in-milwaukee-b99193907z1-242463151.html

Obviously, this is a tragedy for Classical music, but also, I'm fascinated in what the thief's next move might be. A stolen $3.5M violin isn't exactly something you can cash out at the local gun store.

[snowdenscold]

That's pretty awful. It does make you wonder what the thief's next move is though, since it was assumed the violin was the target of the robbery. Perhaps they have a buyer lined up on the black market already? I imagine this scenario is similar to when high value artwork is stolen (and I have no idea how that typically plays out).

On a side note, I didn't realize Tartini had played on this particular violin.

[77devil]

That's pretty awful. It does make you wonder what the thief's next move is though, since it was assumed the violin was the target of the robbery. Perhaps they have a buyer lined up on the black market already? I imagine this scenario is similar to when high value artwork is stolen (and I have no idea how that typically plays out).

On a side note, I didn't realize Tartini had played on this particular violin.

It will likely end up in Russia or China if it's not already there.

[BD80]

What kind of security did the doofus have if someone can drive up and taze him and drive away with a "priceless" violin (valued high SEVEN figures - comparable to one auctioned for $3.5 mil 8 years ago)?

Coincidence that a similar stolen violin was recovered in England last year? Maybe that "collector" wanted to replenish his/her inventory.

[wilson]

I just want Interpol to find the violin and catch the guys soon so they can hurry up and make the movie. This straight out of a Thomas Crowne knockoff or something.

[snowdenscold]

It will likely end up in Russia or China if it's not already there.

Putin says it was a gift - he didn't steal it, really!

[brevity]

I just want Interpol to find the violin and catch the guys soon so they can hurry up and make the movie. This straight out of a Thomas Crowne knockoff or something.

I like the way you think. Neal Caffrey (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1358522/?ref_=nv_sr_1) is probably tracking it down right now, if he didn't steal it himself.

[throatybeard]

On a side note, I didn't realize Tartini had played on this particular violin.

Isn't that amazing?

One would like to hear this on it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpi0yMsksLI

[cspan37421]

I just want Interpol to find the violin and catch the guys soon so they can hurry up and make the movie. This straight out of a Thomas Crowne knockoff or something.

In the movie, I hope they make it a double-upright instead of a violin, so the thief can say, as he rides off,


[wait for it ...]



"All your bass are belong to us!"

[BD80]

In the movie, I hope they make it a double-upright instead of a violin, so the thief can say, as he rides off,


[wait for it ...]



"All your bass are belong to us!"

A movie today won't make money unless there is violin(se)

[killerleft]

Maybe 1960, when I was in the second grade, a virtuoso of the violin played in our school cafeteria (I don't remember his name, he was old and white haired). He was very stern and demanded complete silence from about 200 first-thru-sixth graders before he would begin. A couple kids had to be escorted out after whispering and receiving the evil eye from this guy. We were all tense and afraid to move.

As you might imagine, we weren't very appreciative of this Stradivarius-wielding ogre, and he abruptly got up and left after playing for a short while. Ever since, I have wondered if I would experience an eye-tic or other involuntary ailment if I saw another Strad.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[Edouble]

The Lipiński has been stolen from the concertmaster of the Milwaukee Orchestra, Frank Almond.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/crime/stradivarius-violin-stolen-in-armed-robbery-in-milwaukee-b99193907z1-242463151.html

Obviously, this is a tragedy for Classical music, but also, I'm fascinated in what the thief's next move might be. A stolen $3.5M violin isn't exactly something you can cash out at the local gun store.

Yeah, but Jean Lundegaard was ransomed for a cool million and there was only one buyer... and that was in 1987! I'm sure the thief can get a pretty penny for it.

[moonpie23]

unfortunately, according to the reports, the case was not far away…..the thieves probably knew that the case might indeed carry a tracking chip (i sure would have one hidden in there)…


hopefully, the instrument will not be damaged…..i worry about it being out of the case, on the run….

[fidel]

For the unwashed...how does a concertmaster afford a $3.5M strad?

Perhaps he comes from money or, more fascinating to me, there is that much money in top-tier classical music not done by someone named Yo-Yo.

I also await the movie. I can't wait for the ending. Violin gets sanded and revarnished, you know, cleaned up to make it valuable.

[snowdenscold]

For the unwashed...how does a concertmaster afford a $3.5M strad?

Perhaps he comes from money or, more fascinating to me, there is that much money in top-tier classical music not done by someone named Yo-Yo.

I also await the movie. I can't wait for the ending. Violin gets sanded and revarnished, you know, cleaned up to make it valuable.

Generally the violinists themselves don't own them. The actual owners, whether institutions or wealthy collectors, will let particular people play on them for certain amounts of time, whether months or years or decades.

Actually, here's a paragraph from the article:


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 lend them to virtuosos such as Almond.


Also, speaking of movies, somewhat related to this is one of my favorites:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120802/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

[Indoor66]

Also, speaking of movies, somewhat related to this is one of my favorites:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120802/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

That is one of my favorite movies. A great use of time to watch.

[Acymetric]

unfortunately, according to the reports, the case was not far away…..the thieves probably knew that the case might indeed carry a tracking chip (i sure would have one hidden in there)…


hopefully, the instrument will not be damaged…..i worry about it being out of the case, on the run….

"Either we're going down, or they are....... Kirk out!"

Not to give the thief too much credit, but I suspect someone with the awareness to know the value of the violin and where to steal it might also be interested enough in getting paid for it that they are taking at least some care with it (i.e. put it in a case of their own).

I can't imagine the thief just grabbing it by neck and tossing it in his/her trunk next to some jumper cables, a couple old hammers, and a muddy pair of boots and driving off hitting every speed bump and pothole in sight. Certainly hope not anyway.

[wilson]

Not to give the thief too much credit, but I suspect someone with the awareness to know the value of the violin and where to steal it might also be interested enough in getting paid for it that they are taking at least some care with it (i.e. put it in a case of their own).

I can't imagine the thief just grabbing it by neck and tossing it in his/her trunk next to some jumper cables, a couple old hammers, and a muddy pair of boots and driving off hitting every speed bump and pothole in sight. Certainly hope not anyway.I kind of hope they do something like this with it.
3852

[Edouble]

That is one of my favorite movies. A great use of time to watch.

Ya know, that movie just did nothing for me. Seemed like a whole bunch of unconnected stories. Also, not crazy about ambiguous tarot-card-fate-for-no-reason plot line.

Maybe I'll give it another try sometime.

[Indoor66]

Just a note - The Red Violin is on Sundance Channel now (11:30 A.M. - 2/2/14)

[moonpie23]

Not to give the thief too much credit, but I suspect someone with the awareness to know the value of the violin and where to steal it might also be interested enough in getting paid for it that they are taking at least some care with it (i.e. put it in a case of their own).

I can't imagine the thief just grabbing it by neck and tossing it in his/her trunk next to some jumper cables, a couple old hammers, and a muddy pair of boots and driving off hitting every speed bump and pothole in sight. Certainly hope not anyway.

it COULD possibly be a very high IQ heist, but it could also be "just" a heist using a low-level thief for the dirty work……"irreplaceable" means just that…….maybe they dumped it suspecting a bug in the case…..or even a bug in the instrument itself…. maybe it's in some high-tech security case…..safe….

[gus]

...or even a bug in the instrument itself

not a chance. Any thing added to the instrument will affect resonance, and thus the entire point of an instrument like that.

[Reilly]

... the thief could've been knocked out (of the park) ...

http://www.electricviolinshop.com/glenn-donnellan

[throatybeard]

Yeah, but Jean Lundegaard was ransomed for a cool million and there was only one buyer... and that was in 1987! I'm sure the thief can get a pretty penny for it.

You know what, I had forgotten that the story is in the past when Fargo was new.

One of the consistently most interesting things about the Coens is that they enjoy making films about stories that are in the past, but only a little. Inside Llewyn Davis is pretty lousy for their high standard, but it fits the category (1960s). So too No Country for Old Men (1980) and A Serious Man (1966ish). They aren't making movies about the Early Modern period, pretty much.

On the No Country director's commentary, one of them said it's a lot harder to do art direction for the recent past than it is for sometime that's a long time ago.

[gus]

The strad has apparently been recovered:

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/02/07/us/stolen-stradivarius-violin-may-have-been-recovered.html?hpw&rref=us&_r=0&referrer=

[BD80]

The strad has apparently been recovered:

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/02/07/us/stolen-stradivarius-violin-may-have-been-recovered.html?hpw&rref=us&_r=0&referrer=

What an opportunity! To interrogate one of the suspects: Universal Knowledge Allah.

Almost as good as schlepping for the Dalai Lama. Gunga galunga

[Reilly]

"Universal Knowledge Allah, 36, a local barber ...."

Presumably, he doesn't have to ask "how much you want off?" ...