Vuillaume played by Josef Špacek seized by Russian customs officials

Written by Laurie Niles
Published: October 12, 2015 at 11:11 PM [UTC]

Russian customs officials seized a 1855 Vuillaume violin played by Czech violinist Josef Špacek as he was trying to leave Russia last week after performing in the International Music Festival Eurasia.

Spacek refused to leave the country without his instrument, according to Sputnik News, and is still trying to resolve the issue. The seizure took place at Yekaterinburg’s Koltsovo Airport on Oct. 8, before a flight from Yekaterinburg to Prague, according to the New York Times.

Spacek studied and the Curtis Institute and The Juilliard School and is a concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. Officials were awaiting documentation proving that the violin belongs to Spacek. Let's hope it arrives safe, back in his hands!

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From Paul Deck
Posted on October 13, 2015 at 1:26 AM

I hope this gets resolved. For now I guess the lesson is: don't go to Russia with your best violin. They'll extort some phony "tax" from him surely.

From Pavel Spacek
Posted on October 13, 2015 at 5:24 AM

That comment is particularly stupid Paul.
Did the German customs try to extort anything when they seized the violin of Yuzuko Horigome a couple of years ago?
If he had the paperwork done beforehand, he would have no problems. The Russian customs are now asking just two facts to confirm, his ownership of the violin and invitation from Sverdlovsk Philharmony where he performed.

From marjory lange
Posted on October 13, 2015 at 5:07 PM

Haven't fact-checked, but slipped disc is usually pretty reliable. Hope it's true, anyway.Russians say they have returned seized violin.

From Laurie Niles
Posted on October 13, 2015 at 5:55 PM

That is great news!

From 98.118.42.5
Posted on October 13, 2015 at 7:03 PM

Another reason to just get a modern fiddle.

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