The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra has the largest collection of Strads on the planet.Herbert R. Axelrod sold the above 30 (apprx one tenth of your estimate of exsisting pieces) Strad string instruments for $18 mil but estimated value at $50mil; a bargain indeed.
"Live life as if you'll die tomorrow...
Learn life as if you'll live forever..." -Gandhi
Follow Ups:
- Re: funny; sez here that NJ's got one tenth of your estimate - Brian Cheney 22:21:12 04/06/07
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It appears none of the "name" Strads are in New Jersey. There are a lot of fakes out there.
- I guess - Green Lantern 23:05:21 04/06/07
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the insurance adjusters and their appraiser's have all been had over $50 million dollars worth of fakes. Damn them; what's this World coming to Brian??
"Live life as if you'll die tomorrow...
Learn life as if you'll live forever..." -Gandhi
- Re: I guess - Brian Cheney 11:39:24 04/07/07
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In Reply to: I guess posted by Green Lantern on April 6, 2007 at 23:05:21:
The link talks of 650 instruments (including violas, cellos, guitars and one harp) "still extant". I said "playable". The great Strads have names and lineages. I doubt that applies to anything in the possession of the NJSO, but what the hey.
- link - Green Lantern 09:02:20 04/06/07
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see last paragraph
"Live life as if you'll die tomorrow...
Learn life as if you'll live forever..." -Gandhi
- Re: link - Brian Cheney 12:56:04 04/07/07
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In Reply to: link posted by Green Lantern on April 6, 2007 at 09:02:20:
I have been professionally involved with the classical side of the music business for nearly 40 years and in that time, have only been able to examine one authentic, topflight Cremonese instrument: David Abel's Guarneri. While it sounded glorious it was in poor physical condition, pockmarked and ugly. I know full well how rare and precious any true Strad instrument is, and the very idea of 30 such in the hands of one collector is beyond ridiculous. It is doubly silly that he would make them available at well below market prices to a regional orchestra of small repute such as the NJSO.
As it turns out, the donor of these instruments (Axelrod) has been indicted on tax fraud charges, and most of the violins have been identified as frauds or fakes, or at least not Strads. Current opinion is that "several" of these instruments may be Strads, but no one is sure. The orchestra is now planning to sell them in order to retire some debt, and their current conductor (Jarvi), attracted to the post by their presence, is planning to leave.
The whole affair is likely an insurance scam, run by a sophisticated crook who flummoxed press and insurers, both of whom should have known better.
- Re: link - morricab 17:30:10 04/07/07
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In Reply to: Re: link posted by Brian Cheney on April 7, 2007 at 12:56:04:
As strads were widely recognized as great instruments even in their own time, there were many copies made throughout the 18th and 19th centuries ...even up to the present. There are likely more copies than the real things. My ex played on both a pretty decent copy and on the real thing . No contest the real thing was much more consistent and better sounding.
