An 18th-century violin worth over £150,000 has been stolen from classical violinist David López Ibáñez, in what he calls “a musician’s worst nightmare.”
The prized instrument, made in Florence in 1740 by master luthier Lorenzo Carcassi, was taken from The Marquess Tavern in Islington on the evening of 18 February while David was having dinner with a friend. CCTV footage released by the Metropolitan Police shows a man wearing a pale beanie and light brown coat entering the pub shortly before the theft.
“It’s more than just an object. It’s a companion,” noted, a member of the Philharmonia Orchestra. “That violin was his voice.”
Originally from Andalucía, Spain, David has been based in London since 2013 and has built a distinguished career in both classical and contemporary performance. A graduate of the Royal College of Music, they have performed at top venues including Wigmore Hall and the Royal Festival Hall, and have collaborated with major ensembles across Europe.
The stolen Carcassi violin had been on loan from Mr. Sebastian Kutscha and held deep personal and professional value for the musician, it also has a distinctive heart embedded, so it would be hard pressed for the criminal to resell or offload this prized possession. David has reported the incident to the police, who are actively investigating the theft. Musicians and the wider classical community have rallied around, sharing the story in hopes the instrument may be recovered.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Metropolitan Police or Crimestoppers anonymously. For David, the loss is not just financial. You build a relationship with an instrument like this. It becomes part of who you are. “You get taught from a very early age to take such good care of it. Nothing prepares you for having it snatched away,” he said.
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