The Gibson Stradivarius is one of the most famed violins fabricated by Antonio Stradivari of Cremona of 1713. The Gibson was once owned by Bronislaw Huberman and, while in his possession, was stolen twice. The first time the violin was returned shortly after the theft; the second theft occurred backstage at Carnegie Hall in 1936 and the violin was not recovered until 50 years later. This happened while Huberman was playing another violin, a Guarnerius. Huberman never saw the Gibson Stradivarius again. The thief turned out to be violinist Julian Altman. Altman was able to distract a security guard backstage with a cigar. With the guard distracted, Altman entered Huberman's dressing room and made off with the Strad, hiding it under his coat. Altman played the Strad for close to 50 years and just days before he died in 1985, admitted to the theft of the famous stolen instrument. It is currently owned by classical violinist Joshua Bell. Bell's recordings with the Gibson ex Huberman can be heard on "Romance of the Violin" (2003) and "Tchaikovsky" a CD of violin concertos conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas (2006). It can also be heard on the CD, the Voice of the Violin.
