Musicians' heartbreak over £100,000 theft
A pair of professional musicians today told of their heartbreak after they returned home from a concert to find their £100,000 collection of musical instruments had been stolen.
Among the instruments taken from Pal Banda and Susie Meszaros's house was a 250-year-old Carcassi cello valued at £66,000.
Detectives believe the house was deliberately targeted by thieves who knew the married couple would be away at the time.
Mr Banda, 45, who travels the world performing classical music, described his feelingsof loss and appealed for the safe return of the instruments.
"As soon as I stepped in the house I knew something was wrong," he said. "I went into the front room and saw that all of the instruments had been taken and the window had been forced open with a crowbar.
"The house hadn't been ransacked as I think the thieves set out with the sole purpose of taking the violas and cellos.
"At first it didn't really sink in what had happened but then the scale of the loss slowly dawned on me.
"We are still in deep shock and we are desperate to get everything back again."
Mr Banda, from North Finchley, performs with the Carcassi which was handed down to him by his Hungarian father, also a professional cellist.
The instrument, which has been in the family for 40 years, was built by the cello and violin- making brothers Tomasso and Lorenzo Carcassi in Florence in 1752.
Mr Banda, who plays with the Allegri Quartet, famous in musical circles for its classical and romantic chamber repertoire, said: "My father played the Carcassi before giving it to me but I haven't told him what happened yet, I think he'd be too upset.
"It is a family heirloom and I'm devastated that it's gone. To me it's more than an instrument, it has a personality and I feel lost without it."
Among the other items taken were an 1880 Schweitzer cello valued at £15,000, a violin and a cello belonging to the couple's children, a gold violin bow and an 1820 Mittenwald violin belonging to Ms Meszaros, valued at £6,500.
Ms Meszaros, 44, who teaches at the Royal College of Music and the Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey, said: "This is not just a loss for us or the music community but it's a loss to everyone.
"We play all over the world with these instruments and they are enjoyed by thousands of people.
"Whoever has done this is depriving music lovers of the wonderful sound these violas and cellos make.
"They are in a beautiful condition and there is no replacement for them. I don't know if the thieves know the true value of what they have taken.
"Maybe they think they are just worth a few hundred pounds and they could sell them at some car boot sale but they are worth a lot of money and we are desperate to get them back.
" Even though the instruments were insured, they really are priceless to us.
"If anyone knows who has them we would ask them to call the police and as soon as possible."
