A classical musician on tour with Andrea Bocelli is “devastated” after leaving his £250,000 antique violin on a train in south London.
Stephen Morris, 51, woke up on Wednesday to discover he had not taken his 310-year-old violin with him when he got off the London to Orpington service at Penge East.
Mr Morris’s violin was one of only a few made by master craftsman David Tecchler in 1709.
The musician was meant to be guest leading the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in two concerts with Italian opera singer Bocelli at the weekend and had to borrow another instrument from his wife so he could take part.
He is now urging anyone with information to get in touch.
He said: “I searched for the right violin for quite a few years- it was a long process. I found this one in Christie's rare sting auction and had it wonderfully restored.
“It’s a tool of the trade but it becomes a part of your body. If you change instruments it very strange, you don’t know where anything is any more.
“The way the strings vibrate to make music- it is all different.”
Mr Morris, who has played on film scores including The Lord Of The Rings and James Bond and recorded with David Bowie and Stevie Wonder, will continue to use another violin for his forthcoming concerts if his own cannot be found.
He added: “Fortunately my wife is an excellent violinist and I have been able to borrow one from her – it got me out of a difficult spot but it is not the same.
“I have quite a few solos on this tour and it will be a bit of an adventure thinking ‘what will come out next’.”
Mr Morris left it in a “distinctive white case” on the 10.58pm London Victoria to Orpington service. The instrument was marked with “David Tecchler Liutaro”.
He has reported the loss to BTP and said officers are looking through CCTV to see if anyone left the train with his case.
Tecchler was part of the renowned Roman School of Violin Making in the 17th Century and was considered to be the institution's leading violin and cello maker.
