Theft of 300-year-old rare violin from London pub leaves musician in limbo
A top violinist playing in a prestigious London orchestra has had their ‘irreplaceable’ 300-year-old violin stolen from a pub in Islington.
David López Ibáñez, who is a second violinist with London’s Philharmonia Orchestra, was at the Marquess Tavern in Canonbury on Tuesday evening when the instrument was snatched.
The ‘rare’ and ‘priceless’ violin was made in 1740 by Florentine instrument maker Lorenzo Carcassi and was loaned to David for major concerts with the Philharmonia.
Three bows, including one with a mother-of-pearl tip, were also stolen, as well as a white cotton bag made by David’s late grandmother.
The 30-year-old, originally from Spain, said their ‘heart exploded’ when suddenly noticed the prized violin had vanished.
David told Metro: ‘Instantly I felt like a part of me was gone.
‘As a musician you have such a special bond with your instrument. It is a companion, it comes with you on your back all around the world.’
‘It was a moment when my whole life is flipped.’
The award-winning musician is now begging Londoners to help reunite them with the instrument they have played for eight years.
David said: ‘I moved to the UK to pursue a childhood dream of becoming a violinist and now my voice has been taken away from me.
‘The violin sounds so in tune with me. I am so in tune with it. I feel like my life has been torn apart. I cannot fall asleep’
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‘It is priceless to me and worthless to them.’
The violin has a distinctive heart-shaped hole in the scroll, and was kept in a black Riboni Unoeotto case.
David has played in London’s leading concert venues with the violin, including Wigmore Hall, the Royal Festival Hall and Conway Hall.
They first came to the UK to study at the Royal College of Music at the age of 19.
It was not until their third year when they spotted someone else playing the ‘beautiful’ 1740 violin, which was eventually handed over to them.
David was forced to use a spare violin during a concert with the Philharmonia Orchestra on Thursday night.
The violinist added: ‘I was in turmoil during the whole thing, but it was good to make music again.
‘This is the stuff of nightmares for a musicians. There is nothing which could compare to this. This is up there with one of the worst things than can happen.’
The classical violinist was so devastated by the theft they had cancelled another concert on Wednesday.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed they are investigating the theft.
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