"A teacher of the State Musical Variety and Jazz Academy went to the district police department in Zamoskvorechye [central Moscow] yesterday. He said an unknown person had stolen the 18th century violin owned by the academy and made by Italian master Joseph Gagliano, in the period of May 15-27," Moscow's main police office said.
According to the teacher, the instrument is worth over $230,000.
The Gagliano masters were one of the most famous Italian dynasties. In the period of 1640 to the early 20th century, 20 Gagliano masters created their violins. Alessandro Gagliano was the founder of the dynasty. He came from Naples. In Cremona, he joined the violin-making class of Nicolo Amati where Antonio Stradivari was studying at the time too. When he returned to his hometown thirty years later, he founded the Naples school whose violins are known for their perfect tone. Experts say that some Gagliano violins even outstrip those of Stradivari.
