The Ames Stradivarius, a prized violin purchased for 15,000 dollars in 1943, vanished from a university office in 1980 only to resurface decades later. Its long-time owner, Roman Totenberg, was a Polish-American musician who sustained a career spanning over a century, performing globally while shaping the techniques of multiple generations through extensive pedagogical work.
Early Development and European Foundations
Born in Łódź in 1911 to Adam and Stanisława Totenberg, Roman moved with his family to Moscow during World War I. He returned to Warsaw in 1921, where he studied under Mieczyslaw Michalowicz and debuted with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra at age eleven. After winning a gold medal at the Warsaw Chopin Conservatory, he continued his development in Berlin under Carl Flesch and later in Paris with George Enescu and Pierre Monteux.
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Totenberg immigrated to the United States in 1938 after successful debuts in London and Washington, D.C. His repertoire included over thirty concerti and the complete cycle of Beethoven sonatas. Throughout his career, he performed with orchestras including the New York Philharmonic and Berlin Philharmonic under conductors such as Leopold Stokowski and Pierre Monteux. He also co-founded the Alma Trio in 1942 while working under the patronage of Yehudi Menuhin.
Pedagogy and Academic Leadership
Beyond the concert stage, Totenberg maintained a significant academic presence. He chaired the string department at the Music Academy of the West starting in 1947 and later directed the Longy School of Music from 1978 to 1985. His tenure as a Professor of Music at Boston University lasted from 1961 to 1978, where he mentored students including Leon Botstein, Mira Wang, and Yevgeny Kutik.
The Ames Stradivarius Incident
In May 1980, the Ames Stradivarius was stolen following a concert in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Totenberg suspected Philip S. Johnson, though authorities lacked sufficient evidence for a search warrant at the time. The instrument remained missing until 2015, when it was recovered among the late Johnson's belongings. It was returned to the Totenberg daughters, Nina, Amy, and Jill, who subsequently sold the violin.
Fast facts
- Born: 1911, Łódź, Poland
- Died: 2012, Newton, Massachusetts
- Education: V L.O. im. Ks. Józefa Poniatowskiego; Chopin University of Music
- Key Employers: Boston University; Longy School of Music; Music Academy of the West
- Citizenship: Poland, United States
- Notable Honors: Commander of the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland; Wieniawski Medal
- Primary Instrument: Ames Stradivarius
- Family: Melanie Frances Eisenberg (wife); Nina, Amy, and Jill Totenberg (daughters)
Questions readers ask
What happened to the Ames Stradivarius after it was stolen?
The violin was missing for thirty-five years after its 1980 theft. It was recovered in 2015 following the death of the primary suspect, Philip S. Johnson, and returned to Totenberg's daughters.
Where did Roman Totenberg teach during his career?
He held positions at Boston University, the Longy School of Music, the Peabody Conservatory of Music, the Mannes College of Music, and the Music Academy of the West.
Achievements
- Commander of the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
- Instruments: violin
- Genres: classical music
