Gibson Stradivarius
Encyclopedia
The Gibson ex-Huberman Stradivarius of 1713 is an antique violin
fabricated by Antonio Stradivari
of Cremona
. The Gibson, while owned by Bronisław Huberman, was stolen twice. The first time the violin was returned shortly after the theft; the second theft, by musician Julian Altman, occurred on the evening of 28 February 1936, backstage at Carnegie Hall
, while Huberman performed with his Guarnerius of 1731. Though Huberman never saw the Gibson again, the instrument was recovered 50 years later, in 1985, as a result of Altman's deathbed confession to his wife that he had stolen the violin.
The Gibson ex-Huberman is currently owned by violinist Joshua Bell
. Bell had held and played the violin, and its owner at the time jokingly told Bell the violin could be his for four million dollars. Shortly thereafter, by chance, Bell came across the violin again and discovered it was about to be sold to a German
industrialist to become part of a collection. According to his website, Bell "was practically in tears." Bell then reportedly sold his current Stradivarius
, the Tom Tyler
, for a little more than two million dollars and made the purchase of the Gibson ex Huberman for a little under the four million dollar asking price. His first recording made with the Gibson ex Huberman was Romance of the Violin (under Sony Classical
) in 2003. Bell currently trusts expert luthier
Emmanuel Gradoux-Matt
with the upkeep of the Gibson ex Huberman.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
fabricated by Antonio Stradivari
Antonio Stradivari
Antonio Stradivari was an Italian luthier and a crafter of string instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars, violas, and harps. Stradivari is generally considered the most significant artisan in this field. The Latinized form of his surname, Stradivarius, as well as the colloquial, "Strad", is...
of Cremona
Cremona
Cremona is a city and comune in northern Italy, situated in Lombardy, on the left bank of the Po River in the middle of the Pianura Padana . It is the capital of the province of Cremona and the seat of the local City and Province governments...
. The Gibson, while owned by Bronisław Huberman, was stolen twice. The first time the violin was returned shortly after the theft; the second theft, by musician Julian Altman, occurred on the evening of 28 February 1936, backstage at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
, while Huberman performed with his Guarnerius of 1731. Though Huberman never saw the Gibson again, the instrument was recovered 50 years later, in 1985, as a result of Altman's deathbed confession to his wife that he had stolen the violin.
The Gibson ex-Huberman is currently owned by violinist Joshua Bell
Joshua Bell
Joshua David Bell is an American Grammy Award-winning violinist.-Childhood:Bell was born in Bloomington, Indiana, United States, the son of a psychologist and a therapist. Bell's father is the late Alan P...
. Bell had held and played the violin, and its owner at the time jokingly told Bell the violin could be his for four million dollars. Shortly thereafter, by chance, Bell came across the violin again and discovered it was about to be sold to a German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
industrialist to become part of a collection. According to his website, Bell "was practically in tears." Bell then reportedly sold his current Stradivarius
Stradivarius
The name Stradivarius is associated with violins built by members of the Stradivari family, particularly Antonio Stradivari. According to their reputation, the quality of their sound has defied attempts to explain or reproduce, though this belief is controversial...
, the Tom Tyler
Tom Tyler Stradivarius
The Tom Taylor Stradivarius is an antique violin made by renowned luthier Antonio Stradivari in Cremona, Italy circa 1732.The Tom Taylor is best known for its use in the recording and appearance in the Canadian film The Red Violin. It was played by Joshua Bell.The Tom Taylor was sold by Joshua Bell...
, for a little more than two million dollars and made the purchase of the Gibson ex Huberman for a little under the four million dollar asking price. His first recording made with the Gibson ex Huberman was Romance of the Violin (under Sony Classical
Sony Classical Records
Sony Classical Records was started in 1927 as Columbia Masterworks Records, a subsidiary of the American Columbia Records. In 1948, it issued the first commercially successful long-playing 12" record...
) in 2003. Bell currently trusts expert luthier
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
Emmanuel Gradoux-Matt
Emmanuel Gradoux-Matt
Emmanuel Gradoux-Matt is an internationally known and respected luthier, CEO and founder of Gradoux-Matt Rare Violins, LLC. He serves on the board of the Long Island Conservatory of Music, the Aspen Music Festival, the Marlboro Music Festival, and the Heifetz International Music Institute and...
with the upkeep of the Gibson ex Huberman.