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{{Short description|Violin by Stradivari (1734)}} |
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The '''''Ames Stradivarius''''' of 1734 is an [[antique]] [[violin]], made by the Italian [[luthier]] [[Antonio Stradivari]] of [[Cremona]]. It is one of only 450<ref>{{cite news | title =How many instruments did Stradivari make?| work = | publisher =The Independent| date =4 April 2007| url = http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-big-question-why-do-stradivarius-violins-fetch-so-much-and-are-they-worth-it-443213.html| accessdate = 28 June 2011}}</ref> - 700 known extant [[Stradivarius|Stradivari]] instruments in the world today. |
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[[File:Ames Stradivarius.jpg|thumb|Photo of the Ames Stradivarius, taken shortly after it entered FBI custody in 2015.]] |
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[[File:Ames Stradivarius inscription.jpg|thumb|View of the words “Antonius Stradivarius Cremona” inside the left F-Hole.]] |
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The '''''Ames Stradivarius''''' of 1734 is an [[antique]] [[violin]], made by the Italian [[luthier]] [[Antonio Stradivari]] of [[Cremona]]. It is one of only 450–700 known extant [[Stradivarius]] instruments in the world.<ref name="Molotsky">{{cite news |last1=Molotsky |first1=Irvin |title=A CITY THAT CAN DO THE STRADIVARIUS STRUT |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/20/us/a-city-that-can-do-the-stradivarius-strut.html |accessdate=8 June 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=June 20, 1984}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=HOW MANY ANTONIO STRADIVARI INSTRUMENTS STILL EXIST IN THE WORLD ? |url=http://www.5election.com/2010/01/24/stadivaldi-how-many-instruments-still-exist/ |website=Selection |accessdate=8 June 2018}}</ref> The ''Ames'' is named for violinist George Ames who owned it and performed with it in the late nineteenth century.<ref name="Distillations"/> |
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The ''Ames Stradivarius'' was sold to Polish-born American violinist [[Roman Totenberg]] in 1943, for $15,000 ({{Inflation|US|15000|1943|fmt=eq|r=-3}}),<ref name=BBC>{{cite news|title= Stolen Stradivarius violin found 35 years later |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-33808012 |date= 6 August 2015 |accessdate= 6 August 2015 |work= bbc.co.uk |publisher= [[BBC]] }}</ref> and it was his only performance instrument for almost the next four decades. It was stolen from Totenberg by his former student [[Philip Johnson (violinist)|Philip Johnson]] in May 1980, from his office at the [[Longy School of Music of Bard College]], where he was then the director.<ref>{{cite news |title=Strad Valued at $250,000 Stolen |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |date=May 16, 1980 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19800516&id=sZwcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=y2cEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6599,26210&hl=en }}</ref> |
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The ''Ames'' receives its name from violinist George Ames who owned and performed with the instrument in the late nineteenth century. It was stolen from [[Roman Totenberg]] in May of 1980<ref>https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19800516&id=sZwcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=y2cEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6599,26210&hl=en</ref>. Totenberg died in 2012. The violin was recovered in June 2015.<ref>http://www.npr.org/2015/08/06/427718240/a-rarity-reclaimed-stolen-stradivarius-recovered-after-35-years</ref> |
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Totenberg died in 2012. The violin was finally recovered in 2015, and returned to his daughters.<ref name="Distillations">{{cite journal|last1= Roberts |first1=Jacob |title=Stradivari and the Search for Brilliance |journal=Distillations |date=2017|volume=3|issue=3 |pages=12–23 |url=https://www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/magazine/stradivari-and-the-search-for-brilliance|accessdate=June 6, 2018}}</ref><ref name="npr"/> |
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Johnson frequently played the violin, including in public, but it was never recognized. After Johnson's death, his ex-wife discovered the Stradivarius in his belongings and attempted to sell it in 2015, not knowing the violin's origin and value. She e-mailed pictures of the violin to master violinmaker Phillip Injeian who identified it and contacted the FBI. The violin was returned to Totenberg's daughters [[Nina Totenberg]], [[Amy Totenberg]] and Jill Totenberg in August 2015.<ref name="Washington Post 17 March 2016">{{cite news|last1=Edgers|first1=Geoff|title=The violin thief|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/style/2016/03/17/the-violin-thief/#|accessdate=19 March 2016|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=17 March 2016}}</ref> The heirs planned to sell the instrument after it had been restored to playing condition. According to Nina Totenberg, "We will make sure it is in the hands of another virtuoso violinist. And once again, the beautiful, brilliant and throaty voice of that long-stilled violin will thrill audiences in concert halls around the world."<ref name="npr">{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2015/08/06/427718240/a-rarity-reclaimed-stolen-stradivarius-recovered-after-35-years |title=A Rarity Reclaimed: Stolen Stradivarius Recovered After 35 Years |last1=Totenberg |first1=Nina |date=August 6, 2015 |newspaper=NPR.org |publisher=WNYC Radio |access-date=August 6, 2015}}</ref> |
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They have since sold it to an unknown owner,<ref name="npr2018">{{cite web |url=https://nyctensorflow.slack.com/messages/C5GF3E9NV/ |title=The Tale Of The Stolen Totenberg Stradivarius Ends With A New Legacy |last1=Totenburg | first1=Nina| date=October 9, 2018 |website=www.npr.org | publisher=NPR}}</ref> who has lent it to Nathan Meltzer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.violinist.com/blog/laurie/201810/27501/|title=Roman Totenberg's Once-Stolen Stradivari Violin Loaned to Juilliard Student Nathan Meltzer|website=violinist. com [[blog]]|date=October 15, 2018}}</ref> |
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* [[Stradivarius]] |
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* [[List of Stradivarius instruments]] |
* [[List of Stradivarius instruments]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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{{cite news | author=James Forrest | title=Legacy of Experience | work=The Strad | date=July 1987}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*{{cozio| |
*{{cozio|40545}} |
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[[Category:1734 works]] |
[[Category:1734 works]] |
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[[Category:Stradivari violins]] |
[[Category:Stradivari violins]] |
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[[Category:Stradivari instruments]] |
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{{violin-stub}} |
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Latest revision as of 22:02, 4 June 2023
The Ames Stradivarius of 1734 is an antique violin, made by the Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari of Cremona. It is one of only 450–700 known extant Stradivarius instruments in the world.[1][2] The Ames is named for violinist George Ames who owned it and performed with it in the late nineteenth century.[3]
The Ames Stradivarius was sold to Polish-born American violinist Roman Totenberg in 1943, for $15,000 (equivalent to $264,000 in 2023),[4] and it was his only performance instrument for almost the next four decades. It was stolen from Totenberg by his former student Philip Johnson in May 1980, from his office at the Longy School of Music of Bard College, where he was then the director.[5] Totenberg died in 2012. The violin was finally recovered in 2015, and returned to his daughters.[3][6]
Johnson frequently played the violin, including in public, but it was never recognized. After Johnson's death, his ex-wife discovered the Stradivarius in his belongings and attempted to sell it in 2015, not knowing the violin's origin and value. She e-mailed pictures of the violin to master violinmaker Phillip Injeian who identified it and contacted the FBI. The violin was returned to Totenberg's daughters Nina Totenberg, Amy Totenberg and Jill Totenberg in August 2015.[7] The heirs planned to sell the instrument after it had been restored to playing condition. According to Nina Totenberg, "We will make sure it is in the hands of another virtuoso violinist. And once again, the beautiful, brilliant and throaty voice of that long-stilled violin will thrill audiences in concert halls around the world."[6] They have since sold it to an unknown owner,[8] who has lent it to Nathan Meltzer.[9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Molotsky, Irvin (June 20, 1984). "A CITY THAT CAN DO THE STRADIVARIUS STRUT". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
- ^ "HOW MANY ANTONIO STRADIVARI INSTRUMENTS STILL EXIST IN THE WORLD ?". Selection. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
- ^ a b Roberts, Jacob (2017). "Stradivari and the Search for Brilliance". Distillations. 3 (3): 12–23. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
- ^ "Stolen Stradivarius violin found 35 years later". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
- ^ "Strad Valued at $250,000 Stolen". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. May 16, 1980.
- ^ a b Totenberg, Nina (August 6, 2015). "A Rarity Reclaimed: Stolen Stradivarius Recovered After 35 Years". NPR.org. WNYC Radio. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
- ^ Edgers, Geoff (17 March 2016). "The violin thief". The Washington Post. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- ^ Totenburg, Nina (October 9, 2018). "The Tale Of The Stolen Totenberg Stradivarius Ends With A New Legacy". www.npr.org. NPR.
- ^ "Roman Totenberg's Once-Stolen Stradivari Violin Loaned to Juilliard Student Nathan Meltzer". violinist. com blog. October 15, 2018.
External links
[edit]- Ames Stradivarius in the Cozio Archive at tarisio.com
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