June 3, 2006
Stolen Amati viola recovered
The Viola del Crocifisso, Italy's most famous stolen instrument, has been recovered by police after a sting operation at a barn outside Milan.From the Telegraph.The £3.5 million viola, so named because its back is stamped with a cross, was commissioned by the Medici family in 1595. It was made by Antonio and Girolamo Amati, who also taught Stradivarius.
It was stolen 26 years ago from Luigi Alberto Bianchi, a virtuoso violinist, who left the instrument in his car, parked outside Milan's La Scala opera house. Mr Bianchi was also unfortunate enough to have a violin made by Stradivarius stolen in 1998.
Posted by David on June 3, 2006 12:47 PM
Bianchi deserved to have them stolen. What a jackass to leave a 4 million dollar violin in his CAR!
And to have two stolen...umm...he really needs to stop buying them.
Posted by: KSR on June 3, 2006 5:40 PM
You'd think once bitten, twice shy. And what on earth is he doing leaving anything that valuable out of his sight? I start wondering about the insurance money...dang! I've been reading too many mystery novels.
Posted by: Sarah on June 4, 2006 7:36 PM
You can never give artists anything valuable. They'll just break it, drink it, or lose it.
Posted by: Andrea Harris on June 5, 2006 7:55 AM
cronaca.com