A distressed classical musician is seeking assistance in locating his 284-year-old violin, which was stolen from a pub in North London while he dined.
David Lopez Ibanez, a performer with the Lorenzo Carcassi violin valued in the six-figure range, has played with prestigious ensembles including the Philharmonia Orchestra in London.
The precious instrument was entrusted to him on a long-term basis.
Reflecting on the moment he realized it was missing, the Spanish violinist shared: “My world felt shattered. It’s as if your heart is about to burst.”
After a rehearsal with the orchestra, he had enjoyed a meal at a pub in Canonbury with a friend.
“I placed it right next to me,” he recounted, on the bench where he was seated.
“From a young age, you are taught how to care for it diligently. Nothing can prepare you for having it taken away.”
Mr. Ibanez had left his hat atop the violin case, and when it fell to the floor, someone in the pub mistakenly picked it up, believing it to belong to the suspected thief, and pursued him. It was only later that they realized the violin may have been concealed beneath the man’s coat.
This remarkable instrument was crafted by the esteemed maker Lorenzo Carcassi in Florence back in 1740.
Over the past two centuries, it changed hands among various musicians before being acquired by a businessman in Germany.
Eight years ago, after seeing Mr. Ibanez perform online, the businessman generously decided to lend him the violin to support his musical journey.
Mr. Ibanez commented: “It has a history spanning 300 years before it came into my possession. It has its own narrative.”
The loss feels akin to mourning an old friend.
“With each hour, each performance, every challenge, you become more intertwined, expressing yourself through it.”
Although the violin is insured, for the musician, its value is “irreplaceable.”
The Metropolitan Police have been notified and are expected to review the CCTV footage from the pub.
Violins of this nature are relatively easy to distinguish, which complicates their resale for criminals.
This particular instrument poses an even greater challenge due to a distinctive feature—a small heart-shaped cut-out found on the back of the ‘scroll’ at the top of the violin.
