Imagine this: You’re at a smoky piano bar in Washington, D.C., sipping your drink, when a violinist takes the stage. His performance is captivating, the music hauntingly beautiful. Unbeknownst to you, the instrument he’s playing is a stolen 1713 Stradivarius, missing for decades and worth millions.
This isn’t a plot from a crime novel. It’s the true story of Julian Altman, a café musician who, in 1936, came into possession of the “Gibson” Stradivarius, stolen from virtuoso Bronisław Huberman’s dressing room at Carnegie Hall.
The Theft at Carnegie Hall
On February 28, 1936, Huberman was performing at Carnegie Hall. He had two prized violins: the 1713 Stradivarius and a 1731 Guarnerius. That night, due to the humidity, he chose to play the Guarnerius, leaving the Stradivarius in his dressing room. During the performance, the Stradivarius vanished.
Altman, a familiar face at Carnegie Hall and a performer at the nearby Russian Bear café, was never suspected. Some accounts suggest he stole the violin himself, while others claim he bought it from a friend for $100. Regardless, Altman took measures to disguise the instrument, using shoe polish to alter its appearance.
A Life Lived with a Stolen Masterpiece
For nearly five decades, Altman played the stolen Stradivarius in various venues, from bars to performances for U.S. presidents. He even held a position with the National Symphony Orchestra during World War II. Despite the instrument’s value and uniqueness, no one identified it as the missing Stradivarius.
The Deathbed Confession
In 1985, while serving a prison sentence for unrelated crimes, Altman was diagnosed with terminal cancer. On his deathbed, he confessed to his wife, Marcelle Hall, about the violin’s true identity. He directed her to hidden newspaper clippings detailing the 1936 theft.
Following his death, Hall returned the violin to Lloyd’s of London, the insurer that had compensated Huberman. She received a finder’s fee of $263,000. The instrument underwent a nine-month restoration and was later sold to British violinist Norbert Brainin for $1.2 million.
A New Chapter with Joshua Bell
In 2001, renowned American violinist Joshua Bell acquired the restored Stradivarius for nearly $4 million. He has since performed and recorded extensively with the instrument, now known as the Gibson ex-Huberman.
Conclusion: A Tale of Music, Mystery, and Redemption
The story of Julian Altman and the stolen Stradivarius is a compelling narrative of crime, concealment, and the enduring power of music. It’s a reminder that even the most extraordinary treasures can be hidden in plain sight, waiting for their stories to be uncovered.
Sources:
1. The thief, his wife and the ‘Huberman’ Strad https://www.thestrad.com/lutherie/the-thief-his-wife-and-the-huberman-strad/8627.article
2. Secret of Stolen Masterpiece Revealed : ‘$100 Fiddle’ an $800,000 Stradivarius https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-05-14-mn-9193-story.html
3. Violin at center of court fight, 60 years after theft https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1996/11/15/violin-at-center-of-court-fight-60-years-after-theft/